Election authorities in Kashmir have registered an FIR against former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti for allegedly staging a protest against the arrest of her workers on election day in Anantnag.

Mehbooba, the People’s Democratic Party president and the party candidate for the Anantnag Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which went to polls on May 25, hit back by calling the action a reward for speaking truth to power.

The former chief minister and her supporters had staged a dharna on election day in her hometown Bijbehara against the arrest of PDP workers in the run-up to the election.

According to the FIR, Mehbooba has been booked for violating the model code of
conduct. It said Mehbooba had led a huge group of party workers who raised slogans against the arrest of PDP members, calling it a “gross violation” of the MCC.

“The huge group of PDP workers also blocked the main road and staged a protest at main stop Bijbehara (for) more than one hour which amounts (to) violations of the Section 144 CrPc which was imposed in the constituency,” the FIR says.

Mehbooba said she was “amused” that an FIR had been filed against her “for apparently flouting the MCC”.

“This is the price PDP has paid for speaking truth to power. Our protest was against GOI (Government of India) in cahoots with the local administration for detaining hundreds of PDP polling agents and workers in the hours leading up to voting,” she posted on X.

“Still not satisfied, the same administration went on to launch Cordon and Search Operations in traditional PDP stronghold areas to terrorise our voters and prevent them from exercising their right to vote. Ulta chhor kotwal ko daante (the pot is calling the kettle back).”

On May 25, the police had defended the arrests but said only a few people with a “tainted” record and those who could pose a threat to law and order on polling had been detained.

“Those who have been detained are overground workers and have been taken into preventive custody to ensure peaceful polling,” a police officer had said.

Iltija Mufti, Mehbooba’s daughter and media adviser, justified her mother’s protest on election day. She called the FIR an intimidation tactic.

“When a former chief minister has to hit the streets, what does it say about democracy?” Iltija asked on Wednesday. “We will not kneel. We are here to speak the truth.”

She said the government wanted to tactically rig the election by arresting hundreds of people and launching cordon and arrest operations 10 to 12 hours ahead of the election. She said the turnout, as a result, was below their expectations.

“You dare not touch our boys. We will not allow you to take out the funeral of democracy,” Iltija said.