Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was “almost manhandled” when she tried to hold a peaceful protest over the civilian deaths in Palestine, her media advisor Iltija Mufti said in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Iltija, who is also the daughter of Mufti, said several leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were detained as the Lieutenant-Governor’s (L-G) administration denied them permission to hold protests.
"When Mehbooba Mufti wanted to protest for Palestine, she was almost manhandled... She was not allowed to protest peacefully. I want to ask why the local administration here has consistently since 2019 cracking down on the PDP,” she said while addressing a press conference, reported ANI.
Speaking on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Iltija said people across the world are coming out in support of Palestinian civilians who are suffering from atrocities.
“They are being attacked with phosphorus bombs. At least 1,500 children have been slaughtered in the past two weeks,” she said.
Mufti and her PDP had staged a protest against Israel on October 21.
“The world was screaming when kids were killed in Ukraine amid their war with Russia. Now, thousands of people have been killed in Palestine and no one is talking about it. We urge the nations of the world to pressure Israel to a ceasefire. Atrocities are being committed in Palestine,” the former CM had said.
Mufti had also accused Israel of committing Holocaust-like crimes against Palestinians.
Gaza's 2.3 million people have been under increasing bombardment and running out of food, water and medicine since Israel sealed off the territory following the devastating October 7 attack by Hamas militants on towns in southern Israel.
More than 5,700 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including some 2,300 minors, according to Gaza's health ministry.
