Peoples Conference General Secretary and former minister Imran Reza Ansari has launched a scathing attack on the region’s major political parties, accusing them of systematic electoral deception and post-poll hypocrisy in their dealings with the BJP.
Responding directly to recent remarks by PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, Ansari delivered a sharp reality check that cut through years of political rhetoric.
“It is surprising that Mehbooba ji thinks she would have been the CM had she towed the BJP line,” Ansari stated, drawing from his experience as her former cabinet colleague. “I have been her cabinet colleague and worked under her. Her working relationship with BJP was perfect.”
Ansari systematically dismantled the narrative of BJP abandonment, pointing out a crucial fact that “Mehbooba ji didn’t walk away from the alliance; instead the BJP walked away from the alliance. If they had not walked away I am sure Mehbooba Ji would have continued.”
His most striking allegation centers on what he describes as the deliberate deception of Kashmiri voters. “The reason I am reacting is that I just hope we stop this nonsense of making BJP a factor in who Kashmiris vote for. Because eventually all the parties post election are with BJP. How long will people be fooled?” he asked, exposing a pattern of political doublespeak that has defined Kashmir’s recent history.
“PDP sought vote on an anti BJP plank in 2014. And it took them just 2 weeks after elections to go and sit in the BJP lap and make government with them,” Ansari revealed. In a shocking disclosure, he added, “Let me put it on record. Irrespective of what NC says publicly they were also in talks with BJP for government formation in 2014. ”
According to Ansari, the same pattern repeated with even more brazen hypocrisy in 2024. “fast forward to 2024. This time NC had a monopoly on fighting on a “everyone else is BJP” plank. So NC branded everybody as BJP and projected themselves as the sole protectors of Kashmiris,” he noted, before delivering what may have been his most biting observation about post-election behavior.
“After winning before thanking the people of J&K, NC rushed to Delhi with shawls and presented them to the top BJP leadership. The number of times Omar Ji named and thanked Modi ji in the Assembly is probably much higher than the number of times BJP LOP Sunil Ji named and thanked Modi Ji,” Ansari stated with evident disgust.
In a moment of cutting political imagery, Ansari compared the Kashmiri political scene to a children’s game. “So I want to ask Mehbooba ji. Are you in the business of playing musical chairs. So now it is your turn to play anti BJP in this absurd political theatre.” He continued, “I remember as kids we used to play chor sipahi. One turn I would play the Chor. And next turn I would play the sipahi. So this is what it has all boiled down to. Mehbooba ji and Omar Ji will play chor sipahi, under the watchful and protective gaze of their respective uncles in Delhi.”
He also delivered a stinging critique of PDP’s electoral performance and Mehbooba Mufti’s political standing.
“Mehbooba ji. Please read the results properly. Your party may not have won many seats. But problem is that it didn’t come second in many seats either. You personally lost a parliamentary election. Your daughter lost an assembly election and by a surprisingly high margin. This should have made you humble. Seems it has deluded you. How on earth would you have become a CM. Please explain to me. Does BJP make CMs. In 2014, who made you CM? Was it the BJP or the people of J&K?”
Ansari also criticized what he described as selective memory regarding human rights violations.
“And one more thing—this moral pedestal you cling to is cringe-worthy. When you shed tears over killings, do you forget the ones that took place during your own tenure? Do you not remember how many were blinded, jailed and silenced under your rule? Do you not remember that infamous press conference? Do you suffer from selective memory syndrome or are you actually trivializing the dead?” he asked pointedly.
His critique extended beyond individuals to what he called a systemic problem. “Rulers who have presided over killings during their regimes, committed excesses should have the dignity of not championing the cause of human rights or killings, when in opposition. And it is as much true for NC. Out of power you all have a high regard for human rights. In power you are the worst violators. And that makes a mockery of people against whom these excesses or violations are commited.”
In perhaps his most caustic remark, Ansari addressed the issue of political defections and comebacks. “When some leaders left your party, didn’t you go around shouting from rooftops that agencies and Delhi were breaking your party? Didn’t you call them trash and celebrate their departure?” the statement read.
He then posed a biting question, asking “Please tell me—is it the same agencies now sending those leaders back into your party? And can you also send me the name of that dry-cleaning machine that only two parties seem to have in India—the BJP and the PDP? The one where leaders who are called trash in one party become angels once they’ve been dry-cleaned by the PDP. Please give me the name of that dry-cleaning machine.”
Ansari concluded with a direct appeal to the electorate: “It’s a humble request to the people—please cast your vote based on ideology or developmental issues. But don’t vote for NC or PDP thinking they’ll oppose the BJP. They only pretend to do that during elections.”
