SRINAGAR — A political row erupted on Saturday after Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti accused National Conference President Farooq Abdullah of making “deeply disturbing” remarks allegedly implicating Kashmiris in the recent Pahalgam attack.
The National Conference hit back, saying Abdullah never blamed locals and termed Mehbooba’s statement as “shocking”.
The controversy erupted when Mehbooba took to X and criticised Farooq Abdullah over his recent remarks allegedly on the Pahalgam attack.
“Farooq sahab’s statement implicating Kashmiris in the Pahalgam terror attack is deeply disturbing & regrettable. As a senior leader that too as a Kashmiri, his statement risks fuelling divisive narratives, providing ammunition to certain media channels to further stereotype & stigmatise Kashmiris & Muslims,” Mehbooba said.
“This isn’t only misleading but fatal at a time when students & traders from J&K are already facing heightened vulnerability & attacks,” she added.
Mehbooba, president of PDP, said Kashmiri politicians should draw inspiration from the wife of Pahalgam attack victim Lt Vinay Narwal, Himanshi Narwal, who urged people not to “go after Muslims and Kashmiris”.
“We should draw inspiration from Himanshi Narwal, who, despite the martyrdom of her husband, urged Indians not to blame and target Kashmiris or Muslims,” Mehbooba said.
NC’s chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said it is shocking that someone who has served as CM would “stoop this low”.
“Dr. Farooq Abdullah never mentioned ‘Kashmiris’ or ‘locals’. At a time when we’re trying to protect Kashmiri students, traders, and families across India, it’s shameful to misrepresent his words and endanger them further. Mehbooba should apologise and delete that tweet unless she can prove he said what she claims. This is not politics, it’s recklessness,” Sadiq said.
