People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

PDP President Mehbooba Mufti addresses the gathering during a workers convention, in Srinagar district, on May 17, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the inauguration of the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex at Government Degree College, Tangmarg, in Baramulla on May 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti during a visit to the Iranian Cultural Centre and Embassy in Delhi on March 9, 2026. Credit: X/@MehboobaMufti

Mehbooba Mufti. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supremo Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday (December 21, 2024) said the proposed increase in GST for Kashmiri shawl would finish the craft and appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to address the issue.

She also alleged that the Centre was trying to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism.

Kashmir’s pashmina shawls get new-age French touch

“The Kashmiri shawl is not just a means of livelihood for us but an identity of Jammu and Kashmir. It is famous all over the world. The (previous) National Conference government banned the Shahtoosh, which was our heritage. That also caused economic losses,” Ms. Mehbooba told reporters.

“Today, when you increase GST on Kashmiri shawl to 28%, our art will automatically die,” the PDP president added.

The former Chief Minister of the erstwhile State alleged efforts were being made to destroy Jammu and Kashmir by undertaking development work on horticulture land and imposing GST on the handicraft sector.

“These kept Jammu and Kashmir alive in its difficult times. I request Omar [Abdullah] that these are our assets, you have 50 MLAs, three MPs, for God’s sake, tell us what you are doing to save our assets. What are you doing on the issue of increasing GST to 28%,” she asked.

The PDP chief alleged that these measures were an attempt by the Centre to make Jammu and Kashmir dependent solely on tourism.

“If our horticulture and handicraft are finished, we will only be dependent on tourism. Perhaps, the Central Government wants to finish the horticulture and the handicraft sectors to make the people of Jammu and Kashmir dependent only on tourism so that when they can send tourists whenever they want,” Ms. Mehbooba said.

She also claimed huge development projects were wreaking havoc on agricultural and horticultural land.

The PDP supremo said, “Railway lines, ring roads, the Baramulla-Rajouri highway — there is an onslaught on orchards through which youngsters earn their livelihood. It can have a very bad impact on Jammu and Kashmir’s economy and our situation can become worse than those States from where labourers come here. So, Omar [Abdullah] should pay special attention — our lands are being taken away for huge projects.” She also urged the Chief Minister to provide clarity on the people being settled in the 30 satellite townships being built in the valley.

“Thirty satellite townships are being built, 1.20 lakh land is needed for those. He [Omar Abdullah] should tell us for whom those are being built. Who are being settled there? There are apprehensions about who are being settled as there are examples around the world like in Gaza and Syria where people’s land was snatched,” Ms. Mehbooba said.

“The people of Jammu and Kashmir are already reeling from uncertainty. There was no need to build these townships. Our agricultural land is being taken for those,” she further said.

The PDP chief also claimed around 1.5 lakh ration cards of people below the poverty line were cancelled in Jammu and Kashmir. “People are facing hardship owing to the intense cold and problems in electricity supply have added to their misery,” she said.

Ms. Mehbooba expressed hope that Chief Minister Abdullah would pay attention to these issues and resolve the people’s problems.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, faced severe backlash from multiple political quarters over her remarks on Hinduism.

Many leaders criticised her for making divisive statements and suggested that she “seek psychiatric help.”

The controversy erupted over her post on X on Saturday.

Following the backlash, Iltija Mufti clarified her stance, stating that she invoked Lord Ram in her post to spotlight the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold Ram Rajya while indulge in acts of brutality.

Her comments drew sharp reactions from political leaders across the spectrum, who accused her of making derogatory and divisive remarks against Hinduism.

Speaking to IANS, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok said, “The Mufti family is the biggest disease for Jammu and Kashmir and the country. It is better for them to refrain from making such statements against Hindutva.”

Congress MP Imran Masood also said that such statements are “baseless.”

“By making such baseless statements, people want to benefit their politics. One should respect all religions. When you do not respect someone’s religion and faith, why would they respect yours?” he told IANS.

Maharashtra AIMIM MLA Mohammed Ismail Abdul Khalique said, “It is obvious that the talk of sectarianism is like a sore, a disease. Our country is secular, and everyone has their own rights here. Talking about sectarianism or discrimination is not right.”

Maharashtra Congress MLA Amin Patel stressed the fundamental right to practice any religion on wants.

“Every person has a right to practice their religion and faith. We, hailing from the land of Ganga and Yamuna, should respect all religions,” he said.

Shiv Sena MLA Ashish Jaiswal dismissed her remarks, saying, “She is herself ill.”

Maharashtra BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar commented, “She should consult a psychiatrist and get herself tested. She is the daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, so it is not necessary to discuss her.”

Rohit Pawar, the SP MLA in Maharashtra stressed that no one should make “such derogatory statements” about any religion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s comments comparing India and Bangladesh on how they treat minorities have sparked a huge row. Calling the November 24 Sambhal incident unfortunate, she went on to compare the situation of minorities in India with Bangladesh.

“… Today, I am afraid that the situation which was during 1947, we are being taken towards that direction. When the youth talk of jobs, they don’t get it. We don’t have good hospitals, education… They are not improving the condition of roads but are trying to demolish the mosque in search of a temple. The Sambhal incident is very unfortunate. Some were working in shops and were shot,” Ms Mufti, the chief of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), told reporters in Jammu.

Four people were killed and many injured in clashes in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal during a court-ordered survey of Shahi Jama Masjid. The mosque is at the centre of a legal battle after some petitions claimed it was built on the site of a Hindu temple. It was in this connection that a local court ordered its survey. The local residents opposed the survey and the situation snowballed into full-blown violence.

She brought up a similar controversy involving the dargah of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Rajasthan’s Ajmer.

“Ajmer Sharif Dargah where people from all religions offer prayers is the biggest example of brotherhood. Now they are also trying to dig into it to search for a temple,” Ms Mufti said, referring to court notices to the Archaeological Survey of India and the Centre following a petition that claimed there was a Shiva temple in Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The petition, filed in September, has asked the court to allow worship at the spot again.

Ms Mufti then went on to compare India and Bangladesh on how they treat minorities.

“In Bangladesh, atrocities are being committed on Hindus. If atrocities are committed on minorities in India also, then what is the difference between India and Bangladesh? I don’t find any difference between India and Bangladesh,” she said.

A huge diplomatic row has erupted between India and Bangladesh after Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was arrested from Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday. Mr Das, the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was denied bail and sent to jail in a sedition case on Tuesday. It triggered clashes between his supporters and security personnel, which led to the killing of a lawyer.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed concern over the situation, especially on the safety and security of Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.

Numerous visuals of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have surfaced on social media. Many shows young people in Bangladesh stomping the Indian flag. In the latest attack, three Hindu temples were vandalised by a mob on Friday in Bangladesh’s Chattogram.

The atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and images of the Indian flag being disrespected there has created a tense atmosphere between the two neighbouring countries.

The BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in a statement called for an immediate halt to atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Noting the increasing incidents of violence against minorities, India has said it is the responsibility of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to protect the life and liberty of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, whose People’s Democratic Party is leading only on two seats compared to 44 of arch-rival National Conference, said today that she is happy that the people have voted for a stable government that will keep the BJP out of power and not delivered a split verdict. 

In an interaction with the media as the trends consolidated during counting of votes, Ms Mufti said, “The people in J&K have a lot of problems and we need a strong government. I am happy people voted for a stable government and there is no scope for any tinkering with the mandate”.

In Jammu and Kashmir, which is electing its government after a decade, the National Conference and Congress alliance is leading in 52 of the 90 seats – comfortably ahead of the halfway mark of 46. 

The BJP is ahead in 27 seats – almost all of them in Jammu.  
The National Conference is ahead on 44 of Kashmir’s 47 seats, posting a steller performance not only in Kashmir Valley but also Pir Panjal and Chenab valleys.  

The Congress though, has failed to do well. The party is leading in only eight of the J&K’s 90 seats, that too in Kashmir Valley, riding the pro-National Conference wave. In Jammu, where it was expected to go toe to toe with the BJP, it has failed to stay ahead even on one seat. 

Ms Mufti’s PDP, though, expected to play kingmaker after the exit polls, is leading only on two seats. Her daughter Iltija Mufti, who made her debut in this election, has lost. Ms Mufti, though, brushed away the setback saying victory and defeat is part of the game. 

“These kind of ups and downs happen. They (the people) thought that National Conference and the Congress can provide a stable govt and keep the BJP out of power,” she said. 
 

Srinagar:

Leaders of Jammu and Kashmir’s two key political parties – Omar Abdullah and now Mehbooba Mufi – have targeted the growing number of Independent candidates in the coming assembly elections in the Union Territory. While Mr Abdullah has said the BJP is planning to strike a deal with Independents and smaller political outfits after the election, Ms Mufti said today that jailed MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party is a proxy of the BJP.

Engineer Rashid, as Sheikh Rashid is popularly known,  had contested in the general elections held earlier this year from jail and beat Omar Abdullah to win the Baramulla seat. Ms Mufti said while his victory is understandable, what is unclear is how he is funding his party and bringing it to prominence with multiple candidates in this election.

“Rashid is in jail. (PDP founder) Mufti (Mohammad Sayeed) took 50 years to form the party, we still do not have resources to field candidates everywhere. Who is behind his (Engineer’s) organisation so their candidates are fielded everywhere? From where is the funding coming? From where are they getting such courage to engage in hooliganism?” she said a day after a PDP candidate was injured in an attack, allegedly by the workers of the Awami Ittehad Party.

“I want to ask the government — if you have again come up a proxy party, Engineer Rashid’s party, when all your other proxy parties have failed, you have brought Engineer Rashid’s party to the fore, and you are supporting them fully with funds and everything, then tell us clearly that others parties do not have to contest elections,” she said.

Yesterday, Mr Abdullah had said the BJP is keeping its doors open for post-poll alliance with parties such as People’s Conference and Awami Ittehad Party.

Jammu and Kashmir has seen an unprecedented spike in the number of Independent candidates in this election. For the first two phases, 145 candidates – 44 per cent of the total – are in fray.

Part of the reason is that these Independents are members of smaller political outfits not recognised by the Election Commission, although a few of them are registered outside Jammu and Kashmir. So the members of these parties are contesting as Independents.

Mehbooba Mufti said the people should not be influenced by these “proxy’ parties. “There is a huge power behind them who wants to divide the vote in Kashmir… They want to harm the cause of J&K,” said the former Chief Minister, who has said that she would not contest as long as J&K remains a Union Territory and its special status is not restored.

Elections will be held in the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after a decade on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.