Youth have reclaimed Gandhi’s idea of India: Mehbooba Mufti

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday (July 25, 2026) congratulated the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) for its “success” and said it has managed to “reclaim Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of India”. 

“For more than a month, these youths were out without food. They adopted a Gandhian style. The biggest success is that these youths reclaimed Gandhi’s idea of India. They have rejected and dismissed divisive politics, especially Hindu-Muslim politics. It has given hope, otherwise amid a sense of dejection. It seems the future of India is in safe hands,” said Ms. Mufti.

She praised the CJP for allowing her to speak at the Jantar Mantar recently and backed its demands for compensation to the families of students who ended their lives and an apology for the atrocities allegedly committed on the youth by the Delhi police.

“We were warmly welcomed despite the narrative of Kashmiris being separatists and anti-nationals. It was heartening to see that this generation puts more focus on the future of the country than the Hindu-Muslim divide. I am hopeful what J&K students faced outside will also stop now,” said Ms. Mufti.

She said what started in Kashmir is now reaching every corner of India. “Peaceful protests silenced with lathis. Constitutional promises broken. Institutions weakened. Today, minority rights are under threat. Tomorrow, no citizen’s voice or vote will matter. The unity seen at Jantar Mantar is the real backbone of this nation. This isn’t just a struggle for one community; it is a fight to save humanity, democracy, and the soul of India,” said Ms. Mufti.

Ms. Mufti also raised the issue of Muslim women, saying these women were facing “harassment for wearing a burqa or hijab.“ You cannot praise Islamic heritage and culture on visits abroad while turning a blind eye to the harassment of Muslim women at home. True empowerment isn’t a slogan for foreign trips. It is guaranteeing safety, dignity, and religious freedom for every woman in India,” she added.