Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has raised concerns regarding the silence of National Conference leader Omar Abdullah in the face of recent civilian killings and alleged police torture in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking to reporters, Mufti questioned why Abdullah, who commands considerable political strength with 50 MLAs and Members of Parliament, has not taken a more vocal stance on these pressing issues.
Mufti pointed to two alarming incidents that have recently come to light: the alleged killing of a truck driver by the Army in Sopore and the tragic suicide of a young man in Kathua, reportedly driven to despair by police harassment. She criticized Abdullah for failing to address these matters with the Home Minister, calling for greater accountability regarding human rights violations and security excesses in the region.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader lamented her party’s limited representation in the Assembly compared to the National Conference but insisted that it is crucial for all political leaders to stand up against injustices. “We are an opposition party, not militants. It is our duty to stand with the people in times of injustice,” she stated emphatically.
In her remarks, Mufti also condemned the administration’s actions that have prevented her and her party members from visiting affected areas, alleging unjustified suspensions of personal security officers assigned to her daughter, Iltija Mufti. She described this as part of a broader pattern of “selective action” by the government.
Mufti concluded her address by emphasizing that the restoration of statehood in Jammu and Kashmir would be meaningless unless the fundamental right to life is safeguarded.
