‘Expecting Modi to emulate Vajpayee was a miscalculation'

After two years in an unpopular alliance with the BJP, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti faces the tough task of wooing back the electorate, especially in the face of her former ally BJP’s open calls for abrogation of constitutional provisions that guarantee the state special status.

- Moazum Mohammad

Q. How do you assess the PDP’s chances in the Lok Sabha poll?

The people of Kashmir are not very interested in the election. There is a lot of resentment against the Indian government because of the threat looming over Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution. The PDP, though, has had a good record and I am hopeful of a good response.

Q. Will voters in Kashmir trust the PDP, given your recent alliance with the BJP?

For two years, we did not allow the BJP to implement the agenda they are now pursuing. Our agenda of alliance imposed restrictions on them as far as Article 370 was concerned. We defended Article 35A in court and outside it. We got cases against 12,000 youngsters withdrawn. Last year, a month-long ceasefire against the militants was announced in the Valley (during Ramzan).

Q. The BJP is advocating the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. What will you do if that happens?

We are fighting it tooth and nail. But if they abrogate Article 370, that will be the end of relations between India and Jammu and Kashmir. We (the mainstream) won’t be able to hold the country’s flag anymore.