Srinagar, Aug 20: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should use his position to raise the “concerns” and hardships faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the Centre, questioning why issues such as raids, arrests and employee terminations were not being pressed before New Delhi.
Reacting to Abdullah’s recent remarks before meeting with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Mufti said she agreed with the Chief Minister that Washington could not resolve Jammu and Kashmir’s issues and that they had to be addressed by the Centre.
“I agree with Omar Sahib that the issues of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be resolved by America. New Delhi will have to resolve them,” she told reporters in Srinagar.
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However, she questioned why Abdullah did not use the opportunity to draw attention to the concerns of people in the region.
“Issues such as security operations, arrests, termination of employees, raids and property attachments should be highlighted before the Centre,” she said.
Mufti said that even if the Chief Minister did not consider it appropriate to raise such matters with the US envoy, he could still take them up directly with the Centre.
The PDP chief also criticised what she described as the “curated” nature of visits by foreign dignitaries to Jammu and Kashmir since 2019.
“After 2019, the tours of these foreign dignitaries are curated. They come, meet the Chief Minister, meet the Governor, go for a shikara ride and leave,” she said.
According to Mufti, foreign ambassadors earlier interacted with representatives from different sections of society, including people associated with tourism, trade and travel, allowing them to hear concerns directly from stakeholders.
She said Jammu and Kashmir did not need American intervention to resolve its problems, but the Chief Minister should persuade New Delhi to address the difficulties faced by the people.
Referring to the tenure of her late father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, she said his government had pursued dialogue with different sections of society as well as Pakistan and had facilitated the opening of cross-border routes.
Mufti also urged Abdullah to press the Centre for the reopening of the Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot trade routes, which have remained suspended.
On the US envoy’s indication that Washington could review its travel advisory for Jammu and Kashmir and expand economic engagement with the region, Mufti welcomed the possibility if it translated into tangible benefits for the people.
She said greater economic engagement could help generate employment, particularly in sectors such as horticulture and handicrafts.
At the same time, she cautioned against placing too much reliance on the United States, saying American interventions had contributed to destruction in several parts of the world.
