PDP president Mehbooba Mufti
By Tehelka Web Desk
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged Kashmiris to use the upcoming Amarnath Yatra as a means to strengthen connections with people across the country, saying the annual pilgrimage could help reduce misunderstandings and promote mutual trust.
Addressing party workers and local stakeholders in Pahalgam, one of the main base camps for the yatra, Mehbooba said Jammu and Kashmir was going through a challenging phase and emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust between Kashmir and the rest of India.
“It is not possible for Kashmiris to come out of this unless and until their hearts meet with the rest of the country,” she said.
The former chief minister said she had written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging him to seek an All-Party Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir’s people.
“We wanted the CM to talk to the PM and Home Minister and convince them for an All-Party Meeting so that the problems of the people are mitigated, but he chose not to even reply to my letter,” she said.
Mehbooba said Kashmiris should not depend solely on political engagement from New Delhi and instead engage directly with people from across the country through tourism and the Amarnath Yatra.
“Even if the Government of India doesn’t talk to us, we need to talk to the people of our country. We need to start a ‘Satyagrah’ just like Mahatma Gandhi started, through tourism and Amarnath Yatra,” she said.
She said pilgrims and tourists visiting Kashmir could help bridge the gap between the region and the rest of the country by sharing their experiences after returning home.
“This will ensure that yatris and tourists become our ambassadors across the country and carry forward our message,” she said.
Describing every pilgrim as a guest of Kashmir, Mehbooba appealed to residents to ensure visitors leave with positive memories of the Valley.
“Every Amarnath yatri who visits us is a guest of Kashmir. They carry the story of our land, our people, and our values to every corner of the country. It is our responsibility to ensure they leave with memories of our love, warmth, and hospitality,” she said.
Mehbooba said the pilgrimage assumes greater significance amid rising polarization and mistrust.
“In an atmosphere of increasing polarisation and mistrust, when Kashmiri workers are attacked in the country, the yatra offers an opportunity to build bridges, strengthen human connections, and promote mutual understanding,” she said.
She said direct interaction with visitors could help counter misconceptions about Kashmir and Muslims.
“Every interaction with yatris presents an opportunity to showcase Kashmir’s traditions of hospitality, compassion, and coexistence,” she said.
Calling for broader public involvement in the pilgrimage, Mehbooba said the yatra should not be viewed only from a security perspective.
“We need to safeguard yatris without security forces so that the government realises that we could do it on our own. This will make New Delhi think that they don’t need security forces in civilian areas and that we can protect our own people,” she said.
The PDP chief also raised concerns over what she described as growing public grievances in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated the need for dialogue.
“Youth are being booked under PSA, properties are being bulldozed on the pretext of being owned by drug peddlers, and people are being terminated from jobs. Dialogue is necessary to address these issues,” she said.
The annual Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to commence next month, with authorities making extensive security and logistical arrangements for the pilgrimage.
