Examiner Bureau | Poonch:
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday reiterated that lasting peace and stability in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be achieved without revisiting the political framework envisioned by her father and former Chief Minister, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Addressing a public gathering in Poonch, the former Chief Minister asserted that dialogue, cross-border engagement and regional reconciliation remain essential for resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
“Without following Mufti Sahib’s blueprint, there is no permanent solution to Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba Mufti said, while also alleging that despite the government’s publicly stated tough position, unofficial channels of communication with Pakistan continue to remain active.
She claimed that retired diplomats, former military officials and other intermediaries frequently travel to third countries for discussions with Pakistani representatives.
“People talk about Operation Sindoor, but even today, talks with Pakistan are going on secretly. Retired diplomats, retired generals and other individuals travel abroad to hold discussions with Pakistani officials,” she alleged.
Mufti maintained that her outreach programme was not politically motivated but aimed at understanding the hardships faced by the people.
“We have not come here to seek votes. We have come to speak from the depths of our hearts and connect with the people’s concerns,” she said, adding that the PDP had launched a broader interaction campaign across different regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Highlighting the growing social challenges in the Union Territory, the PDP chief expressed concern over rising unemployment, mental health issues and drug abuse among the youth.
“People are suffering from depression. They are disheartened and overwhelmed by despair. Unemployment has broken the backbone of the youth here,” she said.
Mufti warned that frustration among young people was pushing many towards substance abuse and other harmful activities.
“When a young person becomes depressed and hopeless, they may turn to drugs, alcohol, suicide or illegal activities,” she remarked.
At the same time, she acknowledged recent anti-drug initiatives by the administration and praised Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for taking steps to address the issue.
“We are grateful that Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has taken cognisance of this problem and is actively working to tackle it,” she said.
Reasserting the PDP’s long-standing political position, Mehbooba Mufti said the BJP-led establishment would eventually have to return to the path of dialogue and engagement.
“Mufti Sahib always maintained that no matter what the BJP does, they will ultimately have to come to the negotiating table and engage in dialogue,” she said.
The PDP chief also renewed her criticism of the administration over the closure of certain educational institutions, alleging that there was a systematic attempt to weaken the cultural and educational foundations of Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to institutions like Siraj-ul-Uloom, Mufti said such schools had played a crucial role in educating economically weaker sections and producing professionals including doctors and engineers.
“Institutions like Siraj-ul-Uloom gave poor children an opportunity to build their future, yet they were shut down,” she said.
