Srinagar, December 7, 2025 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged the Centre to review its policy towards Jammu and Kashmir and initiate a genuine process of reconciliation, asserting that it was essential for ensuring that people live with dignity and honour.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Mufti said the Centre had repeatedly claimed that the situation in Kashmir had improved, with youth allegedly shifting from stone-pelting to books and computers. However, she said the ground reality tells a different story.
“After 2019, the Centre said everything is fine in Kashmir. It said stones have been replaced by books and computers in the hands of the youth. But the situation on the ground is very different,” Mufti told reporters in Srinagar.
“I think the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the National Security Advisor should seriously review the policy towards Jammu and Kashmir,” she added.
Highlighting the recent Delhi blast case, in which some educated Kashmiri youth were allegedly involved, Mufti said the incident deeply disturbed her as a mother.
“When the Delhi blast took place and some of our educated youth were found involved, it shook me from within. We wanted to understand why these young people are choosing death over life,” she said.
Mufti said her party had recently organised a public dialogue with people from different sections of society to understand the challenges and frustrations being faced on the ground.
“This was not our last programme. We will continue such dialogues in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir and also in different parts of the country,” she said.
Stressing the urgent need for reconciliation, the PDP chief said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want to live peacefully and with self-respect within the country.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir want to live happily in this country, with honour and dignity. They do not want to live under constant fear of UAPA, PSA, NIA or other agencies,” Mufti said.
Calling for a humane and political approach, she asserted,
“A process of reconciliation must be started to address the real grievances of the people and to restore trust.”
