Srinagar, October 31, KDC: The Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP), under the leadership of Party President Mehbooba Mufti, reiterated its firm stance that October 31 is not a day of celebration for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The party firmly rejects this date as the so-called “Foundation Day” of the Union Territory, stating that it fails to represent the will, identity, and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a strongly worded statement, Mehbooba Mufti emphasized that the imposition of Union Territory status on Jammu & Kashmir was not a progressive step but rather an unjust act of disenfranchisement. “The conversion of our historically significant and autonomous state into a Union Territory, without the consent of its people, is not a symbol of development but a blatant erasure of our statehood and special status,” she said.
The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, which occurred on August 5, 2019, removed constitutional safeguards that had long protected the unique identity, rights, and resources of Jammu & Kashmir. “These articles were the bulwark of our autonomy, culture, and distinct character. The unilateral removal of these provisions stripped away our ability to govern ourselves and protect our resources, leaving our future dictated by centralized control,” Mehbooba Mufti remarked.
The JKPDP contends that the Union Territory’s status, imposed without public consensus, has rendered the people of Jammu & Kashmir voiceless in the affairs of their own region. Mehbooba Mufti pointed out that this is not the development the government claims it to be but a systematic disenfranchisement that deprives the region’s citizens of their fundamental rights and self-determination. “UT Day is not a celebration of progress. For us, it is a somber reminder of the day we lost our identity, autonomy, and the right to shape our own future,” she said.
Mehbooba Mufti retreated her commitment to continue to strive for the restoration of our special status and peace with dignity.
