Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)In a pointed letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has urged the Congress leader to raise the issue of Muslim marginalization during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The letter, dated July 21, 2025, expresses deep concern over what Mufti described as “systematic disempowerment” and growing hostility toward Muslims across the country. She cited recent incidents such as the Pahalgam terror attack, “Operation Sindoor,” and ongoing crackdowns in Assam and Bihar—actions she claims are being carried out under the guise of targeting “Bangladeshis” and “Rohingyas.”
“Media reports of mass demolitions and Special Investigation Reports in Bihar point to a disturbing trend of erasure—both symbolic and literal—of the Muslim community,” Mufti wrote, adding that such measures have contributed to widespread insecurity and displacement.
The PDP chief also questioned the selective outrage of political voices, drawing a contrast between the strong condemnation of attacks on Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh versus the silence on similar actions against Muslims in India. “This duality chips away at the secular and constitutional fabric of the nation,” she noted.
Calling upon the Congress Party to reclaim its legacy of pluralism inspired by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Mufti said the opposition’s role is crucial in resisting the politics of exclusion. As a representative from a Muslim-majority region, she expressed helplessness over the unfolding situation and voiced hope that Gandhi would take a decisive stand.
The letter is being seen as a political signal to the INDIA bloc ahead of the Monsoon Session, urging a unified opposition strategy to address what she terms a “dangerous slide into majoritarianism,(DD)