Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday expressed serious concern over what she termed a disturbing pattern of attacks and harassment targeting Kashmiris and minority communities in different parts of the country.
Referring to recent incidents, Mehbooba said what began with the alleged assault on a young Kashmiri, Tabish, in Uttarakhand had now extended to the harassment of an elderly Kashmiri, while those responsible continued to move freely. She described the situation as alarming and questioned the silence of Members of Parliament from Jammu and Kashmir.
“Where are the MPs of J&K who should be raising their voices as such attacks become routine?” she asked, expressing anguish over the lack of political intervention.
The PDP chief alleged that instead of upholding Raj Dharma, some state governments appeared to be offering silent patronage to mob violence. She said hatred was being used as a shortcut to political gains, fostering fear and insecurity among minorities.
“The rule of law has been replaced by a politics of fear,” Mehbooba said, warning that continued inaction could further erode public trust in democratic institutions and constitutional safeguards.
Her remarks come amid an intensifying political debate over the safety and dignity of Kashmiris and minority communities outside Jammu and Kashmir, with growing demands for accountability and firm action against those involved.