Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday reached out to political, social and community leaders across Jammu and Kashmir, urging a united effort to seek renewed dialogue with the Centre on issues concerning the Union Territory.
In letters addressed to leaders across the political spectrum, Mufti called for a joint representation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stressing the need for consensus and collective action in the larger interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharing her appeal on social media, Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir stood at a critical juncture and that political leaders must rise above partisan considerations to work for peace, dignity and the welfare of the people.
According to a PDP spokesperson, letters were sent to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, MP Engineer Rashid, AAP leader Mehraj Malik, PDF chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and several other political figures. She also reached out to representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit and Sikh communities, including Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo and Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee chairman Jaspal Singh.
In her letter to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mufti said she had sought an appointment with him “but due to your preoccupation it has not been possible.”
Referring to the recent engagement between the Centre and Ladakh-based groups, she said the breakthroughs achieved by the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance offered an important lesson that only dialogue can deliver meaningful outcomes.
“Jammu & Kashmir finds itself yet again at a crossroads in its history where the pervasive feeling of despair and disillusionment has gripped the state,” Mufti wrote, adding that the situation “necessitates a broad consensus above and across party and partisan lines to pull J&K out of the current debilitating stalemate.”
“If we want to restore the dignity and security of our people, a constructive dialogue with the Government of India is a much needed imperative,” she added.
Mufti said the time had come to make a united outreach to the Prime Minister and Home Minister and prevail upon them to initiate a sustained dialogue with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. “We have to keep our disagreements and contrarian views on the back-burner to unite for the common good and collective welfare,” she stated.
Stressing that the initiative should not become a matter of appropriating political credit or point scoring, Mufti said it must instead become “a moment of unification in the largest interest of people we all claim to represent.”
She urged Abdullah, “as head of state, to initiate the much needed process of bringing all parties together through an official meeting.”
“This will set the ball rolling for us to formally reach out to the Central Government. Given the fact that disagreements and squabbling between regional parties have been detrimental to the collective interests of J&K, a reasonable consensus especially post-2019 is the only solution,” she said, adding, “If Ladakh could do it, so can we.”
Mufti further said Abdullah’s support was a prerequisite for the success of this political platform. “Genuine unity in these difficult unprecedented times can lead us towards restoring our rights and dignity of our people guaranteed by the Constitution,” she added.
Responding to Mufti’s post, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had spoken to her on Saturday after she sought a meeting.
“I told you I was in Pahalgam on Sunday and would get in touch on Monday or Tuesday to fix a meeting. Your letter gives the impression that I’ve kept you waiting for an appointment for weeks on end, which is clearly not the case,” Omar said.
He added: “Be that as it may, your letter to me is now in the public domain and I will be sending you a reply, similarly routed, once I’ve consulted my senior party colleagues.”
