Mehbooba”s provocative remark led to division of J&K into 2 UTs, withdrawal of special status: Baig

Jammu: Top PDP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state Muzaffar Hussain Baig on Thursday alleged that the “provocative” remark of PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over Article 370 resulted in division of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories.
Mufti had warned the Centre that if special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution are tinkered with, then there would be no one in the state to hold the tricolour.
Addressing a presser here in Jammu the winter capital of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory Baig said “the statement was made by Mehbooba Mufti in my absence. I was not there when she made it. I have on record said that the statement like it resulted in downgrading of the state (JK) into union territories”, adding that the “threatening statement” should not have been made. He said “If Jammu and Kashmir has to live together and if we have to seek our rights, we have to talk with decency and humility,” Baig said
Baig criticized the “provocative” remark of Mehbooba saying that “one cannot threaten the top leadership of the country over the issues standing at the core of difficulties in Jammu & Kashmir”, adding that “we cannot get anything by browbeating and threatening Modi ji, home minister or NSA. As citizens of India, we should put before them our grievances and our problems with humility”.
“We believe in that approach. It was a provocative statement and it should not have been made,” Baig said.