Fight to protect Constitution and democracy: Mehbooba Mufti backs NEET protest
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed support for the Cockroach Janta Party's protest over irregularities in recruitment examinations, calling it a fight to
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed support for the Cockroach Janta Party's protest over irregularities in recruitment examinations, calling it a fight to protect the Constitution and democracy. Speaking at Jantar Mantar, she backed the youths who have been protesting over the NEET paper leak and other issues, and said their movement was about justice and transparency. Mufti praised the protesters for staying at the site despite harsh weather conditions and said their struggle would help check corruption, paper leaks and other injustices. The protesters, led by the CJP, have been camping at Jantar Mantar since last month, demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, among other demands.
Read Full Story Calling it a defining moment for the country's youth, Mufti alleged that India had seen rising instances of "divide and rule" politics, exam paper leaks, corruption and crimes against women in recent years. "This is what we have seen in the country for the last 12 years – divide and rule. Sometimes 'chanda chori' (donations theft), sometimes paper leaks, sometimes rapes. Even cows are safer than children in our country today," she said. The PDP chief also criticised the judiciary and the Centre, saying the concerns of the protesting students had not received adequate attention despite their prolonged agitation. "Our judiciary says 'we don't have time for that'. So, if these people don't stand up today against this brutality, against this injustice, I think our country will become worse than it was in 1947.
A change has to happen. These people (youth) will bring it. If we need to save the Constitution, these people will do it," she said. Mufti said many parents spend lakhs of their hard-earned money on their children's education and warned of serious consequences if the youth did not stand up against injustice. She also said that if the Constitution was not saved, those in power would turn the rest of the country into an "open jail", drawing a parallel with Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, she said she hoped the protesting youth would not bow down and urged the government not to mess with them because they were the "biggest power".
She said similar protests had been seen in neighbouring countries, but added that she did "not want that to happen in our country". Accusing the government of arrogance, she said it had failed to respond to the grievances of protesters who had been sitting at the site in extreme heat for several days. "The power of the youth is the greatest power. This arrogance will not last long," Mufti said, summing up her support for the agitation and its demands for accountability. Ends
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