Srinagar, May 29 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed her amusement over an FIR filed against her for allegedly flouting the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The FIR was lodged in response to a protest where she and other party workers blocked a main road in Bijbehara, Anantnag, on May 25, against the detention of PDP workers.
Mufti took to the micro-blogging site X (formerly Twitter) to convey her thoughts. She remarked, “Amusing to find an FIR filed against me for apparently flouting MCC. This is the price PDP has paid for speaking truth to power.” She further explained that the protest was against the Government of India’s collaboration with the local administration to detain hundreds of PDP polling agents and workers prior to the voting. Despite this, she claimed, the administration continued to intimidate voters in traditional PDP stronghold areas, preventing them from exercising their right to vote.
The FIR lodged by the police detailed the events of May 25, where a large group of PDP workers, led by Mehbooba Mufti, assembled in Bijbehara town, raising slogans for the release of detained PDP workers. The police alleged that this action amounted to a gross violation of the MCC. Additionally, the protesters blocked the main road for over an hour, contravening Section 144 of the CrPC, which was imposed in the parliamentary 3-Anantnang-Rajouri Constituency order issued by the District Magistrate.
The FIR requested necessary action against Mehbooba Mufti and identified PDP workers for their alleged violation of Section 144 of the CrPC and the MCC.
