PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday faced a mixed reception at the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela in Tulmulla, where she called on Kashmiri Pandits to move on from past grievances and embrace a shared future in the Kashmir Valley. While many devotees greeted her warmly, a group of Pandits heckled her as she was leaving the temple complex.
Call for Reconciliation
Speaking to reporters after offering prayers at the shrine, Mufti said the large turnout of Kashmiri Pandits at the mela demonstrated the enduring bond between communities. “We want our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters to forget what happened in the past and look forward to the future,” she said. In a post on X, she described the scenes as “heartwarming beyond words,” adding that the warmth between Pandits and Muslims transcended “walls of mistrust and division that some have sought to build for their own agendas.”
Heckling Incident
As Mufti was leaving the temple, she interacted with several Pandits, some of whom took selfies with her. However, when she began speaking to the media, another group started heckling her, raising slogans like “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, wo Kashmir hamara hai” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” Her security prevented the group from approaching her, and she continued her press interaction before departing.
Appeal for Government Support
Mufti urged the government to provide better facilities to Kashmiri Pandits, noting that many live in cramped one-bedroom flats in the Valley and face issues with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in Jagti, Jammu. “You cannot treat Kashmiri Pandits at par with other people when it comes to NFSA. You have to provide all facilities to them which the migrants should get,” she asserted. She also appealed to the community to isolate those who seek to use them as a political weapon and to maintain direct connections with local Kashmiris.
Inspiration from Pandit Doctors
The former chief minister highlighted that countless Kashmiris seeking treatment outside the Valley are welcomed and cared for by Kashmiri Pandit doctors. She encouraged more young doctors to take inspiration from them, reconnect with their roots, and visit Kashmir.
