"My responsibility is to make people of J&K feel safe and secure," says Bijbehara PDP candidate Iltija Mufti

Iltija who is the third generation of the Mufti family to enter active politics says that the people in J&K feel anxious that they will be deprived of their land and jobs, but it is her responsibility to cater to their aspirations.

In an interview with ANI, Iltija Mufti said, "My responsibility is that I become a ray of hope for the people. People for five years are not left with any hope. The youths here are unemployed, and prices are rising. So it is my responsibility to give them hope and security. People must feel safe, secure, and dignified. They have been inflicted with the insecurity of getting deprived of their lands and jobs."

On being asked if people think that the abrogation of Article 370 was because of PDP, she said, "People here love PDP. It is a wrong and generic statement."

The PDP candidate also took a jibe at National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah who had accused her mother, Mehbooba Mufti, of bringing nothing but destruction and ruin to Jammu and Kashmir.

"He is stressed right now. He is contesting from two constituencies. Don't take him seriously. He is very nervous right now," Iltija Mufti said.

While the PDP has promised the restoration of statehood in its election manifesto, Iltija Mufti has put the onus of this on the BJP lead central government.

"You need to ask the BJP. They also said that 10 lakhs will be deposited in everybody's bank accounts. Nobody received it," she said.

Jammu and Kashmir goes to the polls in 3 phases starting from September 18. According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors.

In the previous Assembly elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) won 28 seats, the BJP secured 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) won 15, and the Congress won 12.

There are a total number of 90 Assembly constituencies in the union territory, out of which seven seats are reserved for SCs and nine seats are reserved for STs.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting will take place on October 8. (ANI)