People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged the government to address the concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning against mistaking the region’s silence for normalcy.
Speaking at public interaction, Mufti highlighted the challenges faced by residents, particularly in downtown Srinagar, and called for a compassionate approach toward the issues affecting the region.
Mufti expressed disappointment over the lack of expected changes despite promises of development and job creation. “The downtown area has been taken over by police, and people were hoping for positive changes,” she said. “However, nothing significant has happened so far.”
She also raised concerns about the termination of government employees, mentioning the case of Constable firdos, who was injured in a militant attack and has been in a coma since 2022. “Terminating such individuals reflects the insensitivity toward those who have sacrificed for the region’s security,” she said.
The PDP chief criticized the decisions taken in 2019 regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status, calling them “illegal and undemocratic.
” She urged National Conference leader Omar Abdullah to challenge the decisions made in Parliament to protect the region’s special status.
Addressing the BJP, Mufti recalled the government’s outreach efforts in 2016-2017 and suggested adopting a similar approach to address the public’s grievances. “Don’t assume everything is fine in Kashmir just because people are silent,” she said. “The wounds inflicted over the years need to be healed with understanding and dialogue.”
Mufti called for the repatriation of under-trial detainees lodged outside the region, emphasizing the emotional distress faced by their families. “Bring these detainees back so that their parents can see them,” she urged.
She also stressed the need to reopen traditional routes like the Rawalapur and Muzaffarabad routes, in line with the road map proposed by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. “If the government genuinely wants to keep Jammu and Kashmir with dignity, it must engage with the people and address their pain,” she concluded. (KNS)
