Srinagar. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday alleged that the Election Commission has changed the counting date of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections at the behest of the BJP. Mufti told reporters here, “They (Election Commission) do what suits the BJP. When I contested the (Lok Sabha) elections, they unnecessarily changed the date (of polling). Everything happens according to the wishes of the BJP and its affiliated organizations.” Mufti was talking to reporters after several leaders joined the PDP at the party office here.
The commission on Saturday announced changing the date of counting of votes in Jammu and Kashmir from October 4 to October 8.
The commission has taken this step after changing the date of voting from October 1 to October 5 in view of a festival in Haryana. Mufti said, “We all know what happened in 1987… Malpractice led to bloodshed which has not stopped till date. I hope that all the employees involved in the election process will play their role in ensuring free and fair elections.” On the amendment in the Waqf Property Act, Mufti said that its purpose is to evict Muslims from their property.
He said, “Waqf means donating something in the way of Allah. Earlier, in case of dispute, the courts used to decide, now the collector has been given this right. The collector will do what he is told to do.” On reducing the two-hour break for Namaz in the Assam Assembly, Mufti said that this is a “petty act” to communalise the situation. He said, “The Muslim members of the Assam Assembly have not said anything about this and you expect us to create a ruckus here.”