Mehbooba Mufti Accuses BJP of Hypocrisy for ‘Embracing Taliban While Targeting Indian Muslims’

Srinagar, Oct 12: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday launched a sharp criticism of the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of “embracing” the Taliban regime in Afghanistan while simultaneously “alienating and targeting” Muslims within India. Her comments came amid India’s decision to upgrade its diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan during the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi.

In a post on X, Mehbooba Mufti said the ruling dispensation’s approach exposed a “deep internal contradiction” between its foreign policy posture and domestic conduct. “In the name of ‘Love Jihad,’ ‘Land Jihad,’ ‘Vote Jihad,’ and ‘Cow Jihad,’ the BJP has consistently vilified its own Muslim citizens, spreading narratives that portray them as outsiders. Yet, under the same leadership, India, once known as the mother of democracy, has chosen to embrace the Taliban, the very embodiment of jihad,” she wrote.

The former chief minister said that while India’s engagement with Afghanistan may be geopolitically strategic, it simultaneously reveals a troubling duality. “India has extended aid to rebuild Afghanistan, including scholarships for Afghan students and development assistance. But this gesture sits uneasily beside the systematic marginalization of Muslims at home, a community that has played a historic role in shaping India’s independence, identity, and cultural fabric,” she remarked.

Mehbooba pointed out that the withdrawal of educational scholarships for Muslim students, alongside moves to close down traditional madrasas in several states, highlighted this inconsistency in governance. “The decision to help Afghan students while depriving Indian Muslim youth of similar opportunities is a stark reminder of the BJP’s selective empathy and internal hypocrisy,” she said, adding that such contradictions undermine the credibility of India’s democratic ideals.

She emphasized that while maintaining healthy international relations is necessary for a nation’s strategic and economic interests, true national strength arises from internal cohesion and social justice. “The foundation of a strong and stable democracy lies not merely in its global alliances but in how it treats its own citizens especially its minorities. Trust, equality, and mutual respect within national borders are far more vital than symbolic gestures abroad,” Mehbooba said.

In a pointed remark directed at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, often referred to as “Bulldozer Baba” for his aggressive anti-encroachment drives, Mehbooba quipped, “Hope Bulldozer Baba is listening.”