Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that the party’s youth leader Waheed Para has been arrested on “baseless charges” by National Investigation Agency (NIA) today.
Earlier today Para was arrested by NIA over militancy charges involving suspended DySP Davendra Singh Rana.
Mehbooba while taking to her Twitter handle said that Para has no connection with Rana and that he is falsely being charged. “All just to blackmail & intimidate PDP & other mainstream political parties in J&K.”
She said that BJP “milks illegal scrapping of Article 370” in every nook and corner of the country. But when it comes to Kashmiris questioning its abrogation they are locked up and punished, “Everyone knows at whose behest Devinder Singh worked for. Ironic that they have the gall to blame others,” the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said.
Mehbooba also shared a video link of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praising Para for “strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir,” “PDP’s @parawahid applauded by then HM @rajnathsingh for strengthening democracy in J-K has been arrested on baseless charges by NIA today. No coincidence that he filed his nomination for DDC on 20th Nov & received NIA summons next day itself.”
She further said, “Waheed was illegally arrested for more than a year in 2019. Yet his belief in democracy didn’t waver & he chose to contest DDC elections. Seems like those who place their faith in the power of democracy will earn the wrath of a hostile & communal government. I can personally vouch for Waheed’s integrity, honesty & character. Its upto the judiciary now to dispense justice & ensure @parawahid is released at the earliest,”
Adding, “Gujarat model of persecuting Muslims is in full swing since August 2019 in J&K. This is the Naya Kashmir they want us to live in.”
