PAGD ‘tight-lipped’ over grilling of Mehbooba Mufti by ED

SRINAGAR: Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), a conglomerate of different political parties including J&K’s single largest party National Conference (NC) and other regional parties have opted to maintain a ‘pin drop silence’ over PDP Chief’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

As per News Agency, PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti was grilled by the probing agency for all but five hours on Wednesday. Soon after coming out from hours-long questioning by ED from its Rajbagh Zonal office the PDP chief unfolded that during the course of questioning she was ‘forced’ to sign a statement.

However, the allies of PDP in PAGD have not uttered a single word or statement in favor or solidarity with Mehbooba Mufti, who is also holding the vice-president post in the alliance.

While criticizing PAGD, senior Journalist & Political analyst Ahmed Ali Fayyaz took to twitter and wrote,” Not a word from @JKPAGD, other Kashmir parties over @jkpdp president @MehboobaMufti being grilled by ED for 5 hours and ‘forced’ to sign a statement. Is it now ‘panev panev’?.”

Moreover, when the NC chief and PAGD President, Farooq Abdullah was previously grilled by the same probing agency in connection with a money-laundering probe in a case related to the alleged embezzlement of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association funds, Mehbooba Mufti had then strongly reacted over Farooq’s grilling and had termed the summoning and subsequently questioning as a political vendetta.

She had then said, ‘sudden’ summons to Farooq shows the Center’s nervousness over the coming together of Jammu and Kashmir’s mainstream political parties for the restoration of special status.”

Insiders said) that when NC’s Farooq Abdullah was questioned by ED all political parties including ‘PAGD’ had issued statements condemning the move but ironically this time around NC has not returned the favor.

“If PAGD can’t defend its key member, how can we expect them to defend other lower rung politicians in general and interests of people of J&K in particular,” they questioned.

A Political analyst wishing anonymity said that the silence of the PAGD allies is intriguing and indicates that no mainstream party in Kashmir wants to be against the ruling BJP.

He said, moreover it is a weakening sign of the mainstream political parties.

“The mainstream political parties seem crushed too after the abrogation of article 370, which is weakening their electoral ground in the Valley,” he added. (KDC)