Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has stirred a political storm with her remarks comparing the plight of minorities in India to those in Bangladesh, stating that there is "no difference" between the two countries in this regard. Her statement, made in the context of ongoing protests against the arrest of Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh, has provoked sharp criticism, especially from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who have accused her of making "anti-national" comments.
Speaking at a gathering, Mufti lamented that India’s reputation as a secular nation is under threat, citing incidents like the Sambhal mosque survey, which she called "very unfortunate," and alleged attempts to diminish interfaith harmony by targeting sacred sites such as the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. She also accused the government of failing to address key developmental issues such as unemployment, healthcare, and education. “We don’t have good hospitals or proper schools, and roads are in disrepair. Yet, they focus on demolishing mosques to search for temples,” she said.
Mufti further claimed that the current atmosphere in the country was reminiscent of the tensions of 1947, adding, “We are being taken in that direction. When young people raise concerns about jobs, they are jailed, just like Umar Khalid.” She referred to the former Jawaharlal Nehru University student and activist, who was arrested in 2016 for allegedly raising anti-India slogans, to emphasize her concerns about the stifling of dissent.
Her remarks on the Sambhal incident were particularly pointed, as she described it as emblematic of a larger trend of divisive policies. According to her, young men working in shops were “shot,” and the sanctity of places like Ajmer Sharif, a beacon of interfaith unity, was being undermined by communal forces.
BJP leaders swiftly condemned Mufti’s statements, calling them misleading and inflammatory. Former J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina described her comments as "completely wrong and condemnable," arguing that the situation in Bangladesh, where minorities face persecution and violence, cannot be equated with India. He added that Mufti’s remarks were an attempt to tarnish India’s global image as a vibrant democracy with strong protections for minority rights. "The J&K government should take serious note of Mehbooba Mufti’s anti-national conspiracies and take strict action against her,” Raina asserted.
Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, echoed these sentiments, accusing Mufti of using divisive rhetoric to revive her party's waning influence. "The PDP has lost its ground in J&K, and this is a desperate attempt by Mehbooba Mufti to provoke the Muslim community and regain relevance," he said. Sharma maintained that Muslims in India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, are safe and enjoy equal rights, dismissing her comparisons as baseless and inflammatory.
Mufti’s remarks extended to her criticism of the central government’s handling of elections. She alleged discrepancies in vote counts during the last elections and questioned the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), an issue often raised by the Opposition INDIA bloc. “People are waking up, but I believe discrepancies exist in election results because the voting percentages shown during polling do not match those seen during counting,” she claimed, adding that the Election Commission had failed to address the Opposition’s concerns.
She also underscored the issue of unemployment, which she described as the “worst” in Jammu and Kashmir. According to her, young people are increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunities and face repression when they attempt to voice their grievances. "The youth are looking for jobs, but instead of addressing their demands, they are being silenced and imprisoned," she said.
Mufti concluded by calling for unity among all communities, emphasizing that Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs must stand together to protect India’s secular character. She expressed confidence in the majority of Hindus being secular and reiterated her belief in the need for interfaith solidarity to counter growing polarization.
The controversy surrounding Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks reflects the increasingly polarized political discourse in Jammu, Kashmir, and India. While her supporters argue that she is drawing attention to valid issues of governance and social harmony, her critics accuse her of undermining national unity and playing divisive politics to regain political traction for her party. This incident highlights the challenges of maintaining a balanced dialogue in a politically charged environment where regional and national concerns often intersect.
