Srinagar, May 6, 2026 : Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC), accusing it of dragging religious scriptures into politics to divert attention from its governance “failures.”
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, the PDP president urged restraint, stating, “For God’s sake, do not drag Quran into politics,” alleging that such moves are aimed at deflecting public anger over the past two years of NC’s rule.
Her remarks came in response to comments by NC leader Tanvir Sadiq, who had challenged the PDP leadership to swear on the Quran that its MLAs did not vote in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party during last year’s Rajya Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The controversy stems from an RTI revelation indicating that the PDP had not appointed a chief agent for the Rajya Sabha polls held in October, fueling allegations from the NC that cross-voting may have taken place.
Mufti dismissed these claims and accused the NC of orchestrating a political narrative to shift focus from pressing governance issues. She alleged that the current administration has failed to address public concerns and is instead engaging in diversionary tactics.
Highlighting her criticism, Mufti pointed to ongoing demolition drives, claiming that houses are being razed under the pretext of anti-drug operations. She further alleged that similar actions were earlier justified in the name of counter-terrorism.
The PDP chief also raised concerns over administrative actions, including alleged dismissal of employees and hardships faced by students in open merit categories, accusing the government of being a “mute spectator” to public distress.
While reaffirming that political contestation is natural in a democracy, Mufti emphasized that religious sentiments should not be exploited for political gain. “Fight us politically, but do not misuse religion,” she said.
The remarks have added another layer to the ongoing political tussle between the PDP and the NC, reflecting deepening divisions in Jammu & Kashmir’s political landscape.
