New Delhi: Raising the Hindu-Muslim issue and viewing the Pahalgam terror attack through a communal lens is an insult to those who lost their lives, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti said Wednesday.
Speaking to ThePrint on a phone call, Mufti expressed dismay over how the electronic media is amplifying the incident and how it is being widely circulated on social media.
“They are less concerned about the people who have been martyred and more focused on turning everything into a Hindu-Muslim debate,” she said.
Reacting to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s post on X, stating that the terrorists asked about religion, not caste, and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s comment that “terror has a religion”, Mufti said such remarks ignore the bravery and sacrifice of local hero, pony wallah Syed Adil Hussain Shah killed while trying to snatch a rifle from the terrorists, and the efforts of local Kashmiris, who carried the injured to hospitals and even donated blood.
“I think they’re deliberately ignoring Shah, who tried to wrest the rifle from the militants and was killed. They’re not talking about him. They’re not acknowledging the Kashmiris who carried the injured on their backs to hospitals and donated blood. What can you say to such people, who only want to spread venom in the country and seize every opportunity to do so?” Mufti asked.
When asked about India’s diplomatic approach in the wake of the attack and whether she still supports engagement with Pakistan, Mufti declined to make any “political” comment.
Responding to remarks on social media that the Supreme Court should not have ordered elections in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir and that the attack would not have occurred if President’s Rule was still in place, Mufti said, “They are targeting every institution in the country, including the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has become the last institution holding the line.”
“The media just wants to increase their television rating points (TRPs),” she added.
Mufti described the incident as a “merciless attack” not only on the tourists visiting Kashmir but on all Kashmiris.
“It’s an attack on all of us, not just the tourists. These were innocent people who came to enjoy their time in Kashmir and were killed in cold blood. This has caused immense anger and pain among us,” she told ThePrint.
When asked about lapses and where the responsibility lies, she said it is up to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the security agencies to investigate and identify any failures.
“Everybody knows that the Union Territory (UT) government is not in charge of security, right? So, we don’t know what went wrong or whether there was a security lapse, but even if there was, it’s not the job of the UT government, because security doesn’t come under its jurisdiction,” she said.
On the question of a possible intelligence failure, Mufti said it would be premature to draw conclusions and that only an investigation by the security agencies can determine that.
“That’s for the Home Minister and the security agencies to look into. It’s too early to say if there was a lapse,” she added.
At least 26 people have been confirmed dead in the terrorist attack that occurred Tuesday afternoon at a popular tourist site in Pahalgam, Anantnag.
Hours after the attack, Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar and visited the site of the incident along with senior officials, including Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat and Anantnag Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amritpal Singh. He also met with the victims’ families and assured them that those responsible for the attack would not be spared.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)
Also Read: ‘Terror has a religion,’ says VHP, questions Muslim leaders’ ‘silence’ on Pahalgam attack
