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Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Friday appeared before police in Srinagar in connection with a case linked to a recent party protest and said the PDP would continue its peaceful and democratic campaign for the restoration of Article 370 and the erstwhile special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The PDP leader’s appearance before the police came amid a renewed political debate in Jammu and Kashmir over Article 370, restoration of statehood and the future course of the region’s political movement after the constitutional changes introduced in August 2019.
Mufti told reporters that she was cooperating with the police investigation but maintained that raising the issue of Article 370 through peaceful political means was within the ambit of constitutional rights. She asserted that PDP’s campaign was based on democratic expression and not on any unlawful activity. The case in which Mufti appeared before police was related to a PDP protest in Srinagar against the abrogation of Article 370. Police have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with allegations of assault and obstruction involving police personnel during the demonstration.
Iltija Mufti reiterated that restoration of Article 370 remained the primary political demand of the PDP. She said the party’s agenda included restoration of constitutional safeguards, the erstwhile state constitution, the state flag and other protections that existed before the August 5, 2019 decisions. The PDP leader clarified that the party’s political demand was not restricted only to the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. According to her, the issue of special status continued to remain at the centre of the party’s political position.
The PDP has maintained that the constitutional changes of 2019 altered the political and legal framework of Jammu and Kashmir. The party has repeatedly demanded a review of those decisions through constitutional and democratic processes. Mufti alleged that party workers have faced repeated restrictions whenever they attempted to hold demonstrations on August 5, the day when the Centre announced the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
She claimed that the party was prevented from peacefully expressing its views and remembering the developments that followed the constitutional changes. She also alleged that political leaders and workers faced restrictions, detentions and administrative action during the period after August 2019. The PDP leader referred to communication restrictions and detention of political figures following the 2019 decisions, describing them as major developments that affected political activity in Jammu and Kashmir.
During the protest in Srinagar, Iltija Mufti and PDP supporters raised slogans demanding the restoration of what they described as the rights and constitutional guarantees of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The demonstration highlighted the PDP’s continued opposition to the post-2019 constitutional changes and its demand that political concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be addressed through democratic mechanisms.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti stages protest demanding restoration of rights and constitutional guarantees of people of Jammu and Kashmir.#PDP #IltijaMufti #Rights #People #JammuKashmir pic.twitter.com/TOAvOmU01w
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) August 7, 2026
The protest comes at a time when political parties in Jammu and Kashmir remain divided over priorities, with some focusing on statehood restoration while others continue to raise the issue of Article 370. Mufti also criticised the National Conference, alleging that the party has focused mainly on the restoration of statehood while avoiding the larger issue of Article 370.
She claimed that PDP faced political challenges because of its consistent opposition to the abrogation of special status. Mufti also targeted Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that some political parties changed their position after elections and moved away from their earlier promises regarding Article 370. She accused Abdullah of giving political support to the BJP’s position on the issue and alleged that the promise of seeking restoration of Article 370 was not pursued after elections.
The PDP leader maintained that seeking restoration of Article 370 did not amount to anti-national activity or sedition and said the party would continue its political struggle through peaceful protests and constitutional methods. She said her appearance before police was part of the legal process and that she had no objection to cooperating with investigators. However, she claimed that several people in Jammu and Kashmir had faced detention and legal action during previous political developments.
Mufti said the issue was not a personal battle but related to what the PDP described as the political rights and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The latest development is expected to further intensify political discussions in the Union Territory over Article 370, statehood restoration, constitutional safeguards and the future direction of Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
