Mehbooba Mufti Criticizes Government's Approach to Kashmir: Calls for Dialogue

Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), marked Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary by reflecting on Gandhi's view of Kashmir as a 'ray of hope.' She criticized the current government for perceiving the region through a 'lens of criminals,' marking the starkness of the transformation.

Addressing the media, Mufti highlighted her concerns about Kashmiris being labeled as anti-nationalists. She voiced disapproval over the sealing of the home belonging to the late Syed Ali Shah Geelani, where his widowed wife still resides, stressing the divergence of political ideologies similar to her party's differences with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Mufti pointed to a contrast in the government's dialogue approach, recognizing the talks underway with Ladakh protestors unlike in Kashmir. She expressed that while issues in Ladakh and internationally in Gaza are being handled with discussions, the same latitude is withheld from Kashmir, where protestors face accusations of militancy and property seizures.

In a related development, the Ladakh administration announced a magisterial inquiry following the September 24 unrest in Leh, resulting in four fatalities. The probe aims to investigate the cause of the clashes, pinpoint accountability, and review the police's role, guaranteeing a time-bound completion. The administration has solicited public cooperation for information submissions between October 4 and 18.