Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the pain and suffering of Kashmiri Pandits for electoral advantage, labeling it as a strategy to garner votes nationwide.
Ms. Mufti alleged that the BJP has historically utilized the plight of Kashmiri Pandits as a political tool, emphasizing their grievances solely for electoral gains.
Pointing fingers at the BJP-led Union government, Ms. Mufti claimed that the situation worsened for Kashmiri Pandits who remained in the Valley after the 1990s, particularly when direct governance by the BJP-led administration was implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief emphasized that Kashmiri Pandits do not require assistance from any political party to return and settle in the Valley. She stressed that the people of Kashmir are eager to witness the peaceful return of Pandits to their homes, fostering a harmonious coexistence reminiscent of earlier times.
“Kashmiri people want to see Pandits come back and stay in the Valley peacefully again, like they were staying together in a very beautiful atmosphere,” Ms Mufti affirmed.
Her remarks come against the backdrop of her candidacy for the Anantnag parliamentary constituency, where Kashmiri Pandit voters hold considerable sway.