In a significant political move, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, has urged leaders from various political parties, including the BJP, as well as members of civil society in the Union Territory, to rise above their differences and jointly initiate a dialogue process with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Mehbooba Mufti called upon the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir to draw inspiration from Ladakh, where political parties and civil society groups came together to collectively advocate for the rights and interests of the people of the region.
“PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has written to a broad spectrum of political and civil society leaders across Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to come together for a joint and coordinated outreach to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said.
In her outreach, Mufti addressed letters to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Sunil Sharma, J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, AAP J&K president Mehraj Malik, PDF chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, J&K National Panthers Party president Harsh Dev Singh, Shiv Sena (J&K unit) president Manish Sahni, Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo, and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee chairman Jaspal Singh.
Mufti proposed a united political initiative, urging leaders to set aside their differences and jointly advocate for the resumption of meaningful dialogue on Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasized that a collective voice is essential to effectively represent the aspirations, grievances, and concerns of the people of the region at the national level.
No Room for Further Delay
In her letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti stated that she had sought an appointment with him, but the meeting could not materialise due to his busy schedule. Consequently, she chose to convey her concerns through the letter, stressing that time was running out and that there was no room for further delay.
Mufti cited the progress achieved by the Ladakh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance through sustained engagement with the Central Government, describing it as a powerful example of how meaningful outcomes can be achieved through dialogue.
She wrote that Jammu and Kashmir once again stands at a critical juncture in its history, with widespread feelings of despair and disillusionment among the people. To overcome the prevailing impasse, she argued, political parties must rise above partisan considerations and work towards building a broad-based consensus.
Constructive Dialogue with the Centre Essential
Mehbooba Mufti stressed that constructive engagement with the Government of India is essential for restoring the dignity, confidence, and security of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She appealed to all political parties and stakeholders to unite and collectively urge the Prime Minister and Home Minister to initiate a sustained dialogue process with the people of the Union Territory.
She further stated that political and ideological differences should be temporarily set aside in the larger interest of public welfare. According to her, the initiative should not be driven by political gains or competition among parties, but by a shared commitment to addressing the concerns of the people.
Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as the head of the elected government, to take the lead in convening an all-party meeting. She said such a step would help create a common platform and pave the way for initiating a formal dialogue process with the Central Government.
‘If Ladakh Can Do It, Why Can’t We?’
Referring to developments since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Mufti said that divisions and political rivalries among regional parties have weakened the collective interests of Jammu and Kashmir. She maintained that building a broad consensus remains the only viable path forward. “If Ladakh can do it, so can we,” she said.
Notably, on May 22, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) reached an in-principle understanding with the Government of India on restoring democratic governance in the Union Territory and providing constitutional safeguards on the lines of Article 371 provisions applicable to states such as Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram.
The agitating groups of Ladakh and the Ministry of Home Affairs arrived at a conclusion after a four-year-long agitation in the mountainous region and several rounds of talks.
Mufti also underlined the importance of the Chief Minister’s support for the success of such a political initiative. She expressed hope that genuine unity among political and civil society groups could help pave the way for the restoration of the people’s constitutional rights, dignity, and democratic aspirations.
Concluding her letter, Mufti requested the Chief Minister to convene an all-party meeting at the earliest, asserting that any further delay would be detrimental to the larger interests of the people. She also enclosed a list of political parties and organisations she had contacted, while suggesting that additional stakeholders could be included in the initiative if required.
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