Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti's party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has started a protest against the inclusion of outside voters in the voter list in Jammu and Kashmir. According to media reports, the PDP took out a protest march in Srinagar on Friday against the inclusion of non-local voters in the voter list in Jammu and Kashmir. Several leaders, led by PDP chief spokesperson Suhail Bukhari, started the march from the party's headquarters near Sher-e-Kashmir Park here.

PDP spokesperson Sukhail Bukhari said that this march has been taken out against the conspiracy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to forcefully include outside voters in the voter list of Jammu and Kashmir. He alleged that the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being crushed. He told the media that they are trying hard to change the identity and democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not accept it under any circumstances.

Sukhail Bukhari further said that the PDP leaders want to reiterate what was said by party president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday through peaceful protests. He said that the purpose of the protest march is to try to send a message that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will not tolerate it. On the all-party meeting called by National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Monday, Bukhari said that the party hopes that all political parties and the people of Jammu and Kashmir will come together to deal with this attack on our identity and rights.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Hirdesh Kumar on Thursday announced that non-local voters will also be able to exercise their franchise in the Valley. Outsiders have also been given the right to vote by the Election Commission. In this, employees, laborers, students or migrant citizens of other states will also be included in the voter list of Jammu and Kashmir. Even people living on rent in the Valley for a long time can exercise their franchise after getting their names included in the voter list.