Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has once again exposed her divisive, rabidly communal, and anti-Jammu political mindset by selectively projecting the demand for divisional status for Rajouri–Poonch and the erstwhile Doda district under the garb of “administrative convenience.” Fully aware of the polarising nature of her politics, Ms Mufti herself conceded that her proposal would face opposition.
Mehbooba Mufti’s political conduct, as is well established, has consistently been divisive and communal. Her politics revolves around sectarian appeasement, identity-based mobilisation, and positions that repeatedly run counter to India’s national interests—whether through advocating dialogue with Pakistan and separatist elements or opposing national policies such as the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. These concerns were articulated by BJP JK-UT spokespersons during a joint press conference held at the party headquarters, addressed jointly by Girdhari Lal Raina, Dr Abhijit Jasrotia, and Purnima Sharma.
The spokespersons unanimously condemned Ms Mufti’s deliberately provocative and dangerously communal statement, describing it as yet another attempt to disturb regional harmony and undermine the unity of Jammu & Kashmir.
Recalling political history, former MLC Girdhari Lal Raina reminded Ms Mufti that it was the people of Jammu who resurrected the political career of her father, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, by electing him to the State Legislature in 1985 when he had been politically written off. He further noted that Mufti Sayeed entered the Lok Sabha not from Kashmir but from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, which paved the way for his elevation as Union Home Minister. “Despite this,” Raina regretted, “Mehbooba Mufti continues to work against the nation’s interests and against the legitimate aspirations of the Jammu region.”
Raina questioned the sincerity of Ms Mufti’s claim of administrative concern, pointing out that had the PDP genuinely cared for these sub-regions, its MLAs would have resisted discrimination on the floor of the Assembly when the National Conference government drastically reduced budgetary allocations for education and public health. He also noted that Ms Mufti conveniently ignored the hardships faced by far-flung areas of the Kashmir Valley itself.
He further accused Ms Mufti of raising minority issues selectively. “Had she been genuinely concerned about religious minorities,” he said, “the PDP would have supported the long-pending demands of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community.”
Dr Abhijit Jasrotia strongly condemned the PDP chief for attempting to revive an old and dangerous agenda of fragmenting the Jammu region while projecting Kashmir as a homogeneous entity, allegedly to serve interests across the border. He stated that sincerity would have been evident had Ms Mufti demanded divisional status for regions like Kamraz and Maraz in the Kashmir Valley. He highlighted the severe hardships faced by people in remote areas such as Gurez, Tangdhar, Keran, and Machil, which remain cut off during winters, making access to administration extremely difficult. “The PDP’s real agenda,” he asserted, “is not development but political manipulation.”
Purnima Sharma termed Mehbooba Mufti’s statement an insult to the martyrs of Rajouri–Poonch who laid down their lives for the unity and integrity of the nation. She appealed to the concerned agencies to examine the adverse impact of such brazenly communal rhetoric and take appropriate action to safeguard peace, harmony, and security.
The BJP JK-UT spokespersons reiterated that Mehbooba Mufti’s politics thrives on creating an “us versus them” narrative by prioritising a narrow Kashmiri Muslim identity while disregarding historical realities and the pluralistic character of Jammu & Kashmir. Her repeated calls for engagement with Pakistan and separatist forces, coupled with opposition to national policies, undermine the Constitution and marginalise religious minorities, particularly the Kashmiri Pandits.
Such inflammatory rhetoric, the spokespersons warned, is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society committed to unity, integrity, and inclusive development.
