Latest news with #MehboobaMufti
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Prioritise civil issues over investing on war machinery: Mehbooba
Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged India and Pakistan to prioritise mitigating poverty and providing potable water, healthcare and education to their people instead of investing in war machinery. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti during a public rally on the 26th Foundation Day of the party in Srinagar. (Waseem Andrabi /HT) On 26th Foundation Day of the party, Mehbooba also called for reconciliation, dialogue & demilitarisation in Jammu & Kashmir and asked the Centre not to look at the J&K issue through the prism of security. 'What is India's foreign policy without J&K at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering . Wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery and India once revered as the 'hathi' for its strength and wisdom, has shackled J&K with a heavy-handed approach.' Giving an example of China, the former J&K chief minister said that China's GDP shows us where India stands today. 'These are not my words but a reflection of our misplaced priorities,' she said while quoting India's external affairs minister. Mufti said that our country grapples with poverty. 'Many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and clean drinking water, yet we prioritise buying weapons and deploying more CRPF companies. How much security is enough? Militarisation cannot heal wounds. Until the Centre embraces the people of Jammu and Kashmir with empathy and addresses their genuine aspirations, no progress will be made.' PDP president in an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.'PM Modi with the mandate of 120 crore people, you have the power to rewrite the story of J&K. If India is to surpass nations like China, it must end this war-like system and take concrete steps toward reconciliation. Restore the trust of the people by engaging in a process that respects their dignity and rights.' She however criticised the Centre's approach to governance in the region and said the revocation of Article 370 has not brought peace or prosperity but has deepened alienation. 'The people of J&K are not enemies; they are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Talk About Dialogue With Pakistan": Mehbooba Mufti To Centre
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that if India has to move forward and prosper, it should take the path of dialogue and reconciliation with Pakistan. Speaking at an event organised at Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar to mark the party's 26th foundation day, Ms Mufti asserted that people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace with dignity and they will "interfere" in the country's foreign policy when it comes to Pakistan. She appealed to the Centre to view and listen to the people of Jammu and Kashmir "with your hearts" and unless they do so, the India-Pakistan "issue will not get resolved". "I want to tell the Government of India that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not your enemies. We want peace with dignity. We want peace through friendship, not war," Ms Mufti said, addressing party workers. "You sent delegations across the world to talk about what happened during Operation Sindoor, in Pahalgam, and what is happening in 'Kashmir'. It is Kashmir that faced hardships during the conflict. So if a Kashmiri does not demand dialogue with Pakistan, who else will?" Ms Mufti asked. Ms Mufti asked the Central government to take the path of reconciliation. "If our country has to move forward, then stop ranting about war and talk about dialogue (with Pakistan). If you want to prove your mettle in the world and overcome China, then enter a dialogue and take the path of reconciliation," she said. Asserting that Jammu and Kashmir has been a huge challenge for all the prime ministers until now, Ms Mufti said she is not reluctant to say that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi so wills, "he can resolve the Kashmir issue because he has been elected by 120 crore people". Referring to the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament in the UAE, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said that sports should not be mixed with politics. "I am happy that India has decided to participate in the Asia Cup even as everyone is saying they should not. Let the sports be," she said. Ms Mufti said whenever the people of Jammu and Kashmir talk about peace and dialogue with Pakistan, they are told not to interfere in the country's foreign policy. "I want to tell Delhi what India's foreign policy is without Jammu and Kashmir. We had war, which caused destruction. I want to tell the government that we will interfere in the foreign policy and ask you to become the Big Brother because your war is fought in Jammu and Kashmir," she said. The PDP chief also asked the government to desist from a "weapons race" with Pakistan and focus on the country's pressing issues. "There is another war now -- whether India buys more weapons or Pakistan," she claimed. "See China, see its GDP and where it has reached. India has more population and more youth than China, but we are far behind. It is not me who is saying this, our external affairs minister has stated that we cannot compete with China," Ms Mufti said. "Meanwhile, Pakistan is living on loans. It is behind Bangladesh, has less GDP and more unemployment. In our country, we provide free ration to 80 crore people. Our schools do not have fans or proper buildings, our hospitals do not have doctors, but we have to hoard the latest weapons and missiles because we have to go to war," she said. Ms Mufti, who congratulated her party workers on the foundation day, said that PDP's name is synonymous with "peace with dignity". "PDP is the need of the hour. Its other name is ' Aman ki baat izat ke saath ' (peace with dignity). PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the only leader from Kashmir who talked about peace. He wanted friendship and not war. He wanted India to become the Big Brother and have friendly relations with its neighbours," she said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre should abandon security-centric approach, engage in dialogue to resolve J&K issues: Mehbooba Mufti
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, speaking on the party's 26th foundation day on Monday (July 28, 2025), said the Centre should shun the path of war and begin talks to resolve the Kashmir issue. 'The recent (India-Pakistan) war (after the Pahalgam attack) achieved nothing but destruction on this side and an unwanted arms race in the region. I don't know what happened on that side. PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed always talked about friendship, peace and opposed war. India has to play the role of big brother in the region,' Ms. Mufti said while addressing the party workers at the Sher-i-Kashmir Park. She urged the Centre 'to abandon its security-centric approach in J&K and embrace meaningful reconciliation and dialogue to address the region's long-standing issues'. Ms. Mufti said the leadership of J&K has a 'role in advising India to enter into a dialogue and avoid war'. 'The war is always played out in J&K. What is India's foreign policy without J&K at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering, wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery, and India, once revered as the 'hathi' for its strength and wisdom, has shackled Jammu and Kashmir with a heavy-handed approach,' Ms. Mufti said. Lack of basic facilities Highlighting the socio-economic neglect the region was facing, Ms. Mufti said, 'Our country grapples with poverty, many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and clean drinking water, yet we prioritise buying weapons and deploying more CRPF companies to J&K. How much security is enough? Militarisation cannot heal wounds. Until the Centre embraces the people of Jammu and Kashmir with empathy and addresses their genuine aspirations, no progress will be made,' Ms. Mufti. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the mandate and power to resolve the Kashmir issue, Ms. Mufti said, 'PM ModiJi has the power to rewrite the story of J&K. If India is to surpass nations like China, it must end this war-like system and take concrete steps toward reconciliation. Restore the trust of the people by engaging in a process that respects their dignity and rights.' She also underlined that the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 has 'only deepened alienation'. 'The people of J&K are not enemies; they are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship,' she added. She said her party stand is 'commitment to dialogue, a vision set by its founder, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed'. 'Our goal is a peaceful, prosperous J&K, integrated with India through mutual respect, not coercion. Peace with dignity and not peace through war is needed,' she said. The PDP also urged the Centre to initiate a credible process, restore democratic institutions in its true sense, and prioritise the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to build a future of peace and progress.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mehboob urges Centre to take path of ‘dialogue and reconciliation': ‘What's India's foreign policy without J&K'
People Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti Monday urged the central government to 'leave wars behind' and take the path of 'dialogue and reconciliation' if the country is to progress. Addressing the PDP's 26th foundation day at the Sher-e-Kashmir park in Srinagar, Mufti said: 'India a big country, it has to behave like an elder brother and maintain friendly relations with its neighbours.' The former J&K chief minister said that when a Kashmiri speaks about India's neighbours, they are reminded not to interfere in India's foreign police. However, she said: 'I want to ask the government at the Centre, what is India's foreign policy without Jammu and Kashmir?' J&K should be India's crown and 'not a shackle around its ankles', she said. 'Hum dakhal denge (We will interfere in foreign policy) and urge you to become an older brother because your wars are fought in J&K,' Mufti said. Referring to the exchange of fire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, she said: 'It caused a lot of destruction — our kids, mothers and fathers lost their lives. I can't say what it achieved. That war ended but the race to procure weapons by both countries got expedited'. She underscored that while China is progressing, Pakistan was living off debt and 'our nation provides free ration to 80 crore people. Our schools and hospitals lack infrastructure, however, we want the latest guns for the sake of war'. She also stated that the government sent several emissaries abroad to apprise foreign governments about Operation Sindoor and the state of affairs in J&K. 'So then if Kashmiris don't emphasise on dialogue, who will?' J&K has remained a challenge for every prime minister, and 'there have been very few PMs with authority and power', she said. 'I have no hesitation in asserting that Modiji can resolve the Kashmir issue, if he wills. He has been chosen by 120 crore people and he has the power to do it.' Speaking of enhanced security presence, use of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) in Kashmir, and the 'thousands languishing in jails,' she said: 'This issue will not get resolved, till you listen to the people'. She highlighted that the people of J&K want 'peace with dignity' and 'not peace enforced through war', and spoke about the atrocities against Muslims in the country, adding that those actions also affect the people of J&K.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Stop ranting about war, talk about dialogue with Pakistan: Mehbooba Mufti to Centre
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that if India has to move forward and prosper, it should stop "ranting" about war and take the path of dialogue and reconciliation. Speaking at an event organised at Sher-e-Kashmir Park here to mark the party's 26th foundation day, Mufti asserted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir want peace with dignity and they will "interfere" in the country's foreign policy when it comes to Pakistan. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category PGDM Artificial Intelligence Data Science Digital Marketing Leadership Project Management MCA Finance Data Science Technology Cybersecurity Degree Others healthcare Design Thinking Healthcare Operations Management Public Policy MBA Product Management Data Analytics CXO Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details "I want to tell the Government of India that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are not your enemies. We want peace with dignity, we want peace through friendship," Mufti said, addressing party workers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Jakarta Raya - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape She asked the Central government to take the path of reconciliation. "If our country has to move forward, then stop ranting about war and talk about dialogue (with Pakistan). If you want to prove your mettle in the world and overcome China, then enter a dialogue and take the path of reconciliation," she said. Live Events Referring to the upcoming Asia Cup cricket tournament in the UAE, the former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir said that sports should not be mixed with politics. "I am happy that India has decided to participate in the Asia Cup even as everyone is saying they should not. Let the sports be," she said. Mufti said whenever the people of Jammu and Kashmir talk about peace and dialogue with Pakistan, they are told not to interfere in the country's foreign policy. "I want to tell Delhi what India's foreign policy is without Jammu and Kashmir. We had war, it caused destruction. I want to tell the government that we will interfere in the foreign policy and tell you to become the Big Brother because your war is fought in Jammu and Kashmir," she said.
