Meets LG Manoj Sinha After Five Years, Says Time to End Stigma Attached to Kashmiri Muslims Over Pandit Exodus
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)In a significant political outreach, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday advocated for political reservation for Kashmiri Pandits, calling it a necessary step toward justice, reconciliation, and real integration. She said the move would help “remove the historical blot on Kashmiri Muslims” associated with the Pandit exodus of the 1990s.
Speaking to the media after her meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan Srinagar, her first in five years, Mufti said she submitted several important demands, including the political empowerment of Kashmiri Pandits, the release of detainees ahead of Eid, and greater involvement of locals in the conduct of the Amarnath Yatra.
“Instead of mere nominations, the government must ensure proper reservation for Kashmiri Pandits in legislative and administrative bodies. Only through genuine empowerment can their dignified return be made possible,” she said. “This would also help heal longstanding wounds and promote trust.”
She urged the LG to recommend to the Centre that detainees without serious charges be released on humanitarian grounds before Eid. She also called for the repatriation of prisoners lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir to facilities closer to their homes.
On the Amarnath Yatra, Mufti stressed the essential role of local Kashmiris in ensuring its smooth and peaceful conduct. “The locals have always extended support to the Yatra. Their involvement must not be overlooked,” she said.
Taking a swipe at National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, Mufti accused him of weakening his own elected government during his tenure as Chief Minister. Referring to the controversial Waqf Bill, she criticised Omar for choosing to attend a Union Minister’s event at the Tulip Garden instead of defending Jammu and Kashmir’s institutional autonomy.
“I had raised these concerns with Omar Sahib at the time as well. Now, let us see what this government is willing to do,” she added.(DD)
