PDP Foundation Day Mehbooba Mufti Asks Why India Doubts Kashmiris Today

A massive party worker convention of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, known as PDP, was held today on Monday, November 2, 2026, at the Sher-e-Kashmir Park in Srinagar. A massive crowd of supporters gathered on the occasion of the party's foundation day, alongside the participation of numerous party leaders, while during this event, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti raised questions in her address regarding the constant suspicion directed towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She alleged that local youth, government employees, and tribal communities are being targeted systematically.

Addressing Harassment of Youth and Employees

Addressing the convention, Mehbooba Mufti raised questions over the harassment of Kashmiri youth, the dismissal of local employees from their jobs, and actions taken against tribal communities. She questioned why Kashmiri people are beaten up in Haryana, why our people are in jails, why Kashmiri officers are being removed from their jobs, and why our tribal people are being evicted from their lands. Mufti asked, Why is there so much suspicion towards us? Mentioning the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti recalled the contributions of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru, and questioned why the loyalty of Kashmiris is repeatedly called into question, while she asked why Hindustan is doubting us and why there is such a huge trust deficit between us and them.

Historical Context of Accession and Public Rights

Mufti stated that the accession of Kashmir to India was brought about by Sheikh Abdullah, who decided to join India despite it being a Muslim-majority state. She noted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir chose India keeping its democratic and secular values in mind, while those who opposed it at that time were persecuted. She asked whether they didn't know about Jan Sangh and Hindu Mahasabha back then. The PDP President said that just two years later, Sheikh Abdullah changed his stance and stated that they would go with Pakistan, beginning to talk about a plebiscite, which caused the maximum damage to us. She asked if they remember those people who were with him and imprisoned in jails. She remarked that at that time, leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar also began suspecting every Kashmiri, and today, simply uttering words like Inshallah gets one labeled as a Pakistani.

Peace Cannot Be Established Through Force and Restrictions

Recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's peace and reconciliation initiatives, Mehbooba Mufti said his efforts towards Jammu and Kashmir helped create an atmosphere of dialogue and mutual understanding. Appealing to the center to initiate meaningful dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, she stated that peace can't be established through force and restrictions. She asked how long Kashmir will be kept under lockdown and how long they will attempt to maintain peace through the use of force, adding that people can't always be ruled by the stick and their voices must be heard. She affirmed that the PDP will continue to raise public concerns and work towards restoring the dignity, trust, and political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sharp Attack on Farooq Abdullah Over Pakistan Statement

Targeting National Conference President Dr. Farooq Abdullah over his recent statement regarding Pakistan, she said that today he's saying Pakistan is our protector, which implies that an ordinary Kashmiri harbors sympathy for Pakistan, whereas only yesterday he spoke against Pakistan, while she termed this as his dual standard, stating that this trust deficit is the reason ordinary Kashmiri people are facing hardships today, and if anyone is responsible for this, it's solely the National Conference and their leadership since 1947. Mehbooba Mufti concluded by saying that seeing everyone here today would make Mufti Saeed's soul happy, noting that this was her father's dream of providing an alternative solution to the Kashmir issue, and introspection is required to understand how we reached this situation.