People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State, Mehbooba Mufti, on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can "resolve the issue" of Jammu and Kashmir if he wants. She added that no amount of security will work unless the Government of India (GoI) opens its heart to the people of the region.
Addressing a gathering on the party's 26th Foundation Day here, Mehbooba, as per the news agency, recalled the vision of her late father and party founder, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, saying the PDP has always stood for peace through dialogue and political engagement.
She urged PM Modi to "shift away from the militarised policy" in J&K, saying, “If anyone has the power to resolve Jammu and Kashmir’s issue, it is PM Modi. He has got the mandate of over 120 crore people.”
Mufti stressed the PDP’s core belief in political dialogue, saying, “We never compromised on our belief that only political engagement can bring lasting peace.”
Criticising the Centre’s heavy reliance on security forces in Kashmir, she said, “They keep sending more CRPF companies to Kashmir. But how much security will you deploy? Will that solve anything? You can’t win hearts with guns and bunkers.”
She raised concerns about India’s growing military spending, pointing to inequality in basic services. “We are spending billions on weapons while schools in many parts of the country don’t even have clean drinking water or toilets,” she said.
On India's foreign policy approach, the PDP chief said, “What is India's foreign policy without addressing Jammu and Kashmir? What have we achieved from decades of hostility? Pakistan invested in weapons, and India turned Kashmir into a heavily militarised zone. Meanwhile, China surged ahead economically. Even our own External Affairs Minister has acknowledged this reality.”Unless the GoI opens its heart to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, no amount of security or surveillance will work, she said.Pertinently, a massive gathering marked the Foundation Day celebrations in Srinagar, in which the party workers and supporters from across the region participated.
“The event witnessed an overwhelming sea of people from every corner of Kashmir, reflecting the enduring resonance of Mufti’s vision of social justice, peace with dignity, dialogue, and the healing touch policy,” a party spokesperson said.