Srinagar, 16-02-2025: In a sharp political critique, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has urged National Conference leader and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resist any move that would endorse the Centre’s contentious abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A. She cautioned that incorporating the changes into the rules governing the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly would serve as an implicit approval of what she deems an “illegal and unconstitutional” decision by the BJP-led government.
Mehbooba’s remarks come against the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the Centre’s decision to revoke J&K’s special status, a verdict that has settled the legal battle for now but not the political discourse. According to her, while the BJP remains steadfast in its position, the historical and political realities surrounding Article 370 cannot be erased by a unilateral decision. She argued that even if the current dispensation refuses to acknowledge it, a future government in India may have to reckon with the need to restore these rights. Any tacit acceptance by the J&K administration, she warned, would weaken the broader demand for the reversal of the move and undercut efforts to keep the issue alive in public and legal discourse.
Drawing a contrast with the Centre’s past engagements in Kashmir, Mehbooba reminded the BJP of its own outreach efforts during a period of heightened unrest in the Valley. She recalled how thousands of FIRs against stone pelters were quashed, a Ramzan ceasefire was declared, and a high-level delegation was sent to engage with separatist leaders—an opportunity, she noted, that was squandered by those who chose confrontation over dialogue. While acknowledging that those violent years only deepened the crisis, she asserted that the BJP should learn from its own past actions and recognize that the situation in J&K is far from normal, despite its claims to the contrary.
Mehbooba pointed out that the current environment of “normalcy” in Kashmir is largely an illusion, enforced through aggressive policing, stringent laws such as the Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and widespread surveillance. While these measures may have temporarily silenced dissent, she warned that discontent continues to simmer beneath the surface. She urged the BJP to shed its hardline approach and instead adopt genuine confidence-building measures, including reopening key trade routes like Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot to boost the local economy. Further, she advocated for the revival of the Jammu-Sialkot trade route to benefit the economy of the Jammu region, which she argued has been increasingly marginalized.
Criticizing the continued bureaucratic and security excesses, Mehbooba expressed disappointment that little has changed for the people of Jammu and Kashmir even after the democratic process was reinstated with last year’s elections. She questioned the fundamental difference between the administration under Lieutenant Governor rule and the current NC-led government, arguing that oppressive policies such as property seizures, the persecution of Jamaat-e-Islami, and the indiscriminate use of preventive detention laws remain unchanged. She accused the government of perpetuating the same repressive tactics, including terminating employees, arbitrarily arresting youth under UAPA, and detaining Kashmiri prisoners in jails outside the region with little recourse to justice.
Further, she painted a grim picture of J&K’s economic and social conditions, stating that unemployment has soared to unprecedented levels, leaving the youth disillusioned and directionless. She criticized the increasing bureaucratic red tape that has made daily life a struggle for the common people. Instead of addressing these pressing concerns, she accused the government of focusing on trivial issues, such as opposing restrictions on alcohol, while remaining silent on the dilution of the resolution regarding Article 370 and the unfulfilled promise of restoring statehood.
Asserting that the ruling party’s approach has done little to improve the lives of Kashmiris, Mehbooba called for a return to the principles outlined in her vision document and the erstwhile Agenda of Alliance, which emphasized dialogue, economic growth, and regional stability. She urged the government to move beyond its rigid stance and recognize that lasting peace in J&K can only come through meaningful political engagement and economic empowerment, not through force and coercion.