New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government’s decision to suspend further military action against Pakistan, has received support from an unlikely quarter. People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said on Tuesday that the Modi government should not be “politically penalised” for exploring peaceful means.
She called to the Opposition to rise above politics to support genuine efforts for peace and stability. Ever since the conflict between India and Pakistan began, Mufti has been pointing to the sufferings faced by Jammu and Kashmir residents and calling for a peaceful solution.
“I appeal to all Opposition parties to resist the urge for knee-jerk criticism or political point-scoring. Just as the Pahalgam incident united voices from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is need to build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interests,” Mufti posted on X.
She said how leaders like former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh proved that cross-border engagement is possible even in tense times, without compromising security or sovereignty.
“The Modi government should not be politically penalised for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship, not division. The Opposition must rise above politics and support genuine efforts for peace and stability,” she added.
Criticising some news channels, the PDP leader said those who criticise the ceasefire from the comfort of air-conditioned studios and drawing rooms should spend time with their families on the borders to truly understand the daily reality of death and destruction. In an earlier post, she had accused the media of “distracting” the country.
Though the BJP and PDP shared power in Jammu and Kashmir before the abrogation of Article 370, Mufti has been known for her vitriolic comments against the saffron ecosystem in the country. She has also been in favour of talks with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. Her comments on X gave a hint of her feelings.
“While fanatic mobs in our country are vandalising shops, bulldozing mosques and digging up graves to punish the long dead Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, across the border his namesake Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed is training his forces for modern air warfare,” the PDP chief stated.
“High time that India wakes up to the toxic narratives being amplified by television channels that have dangerously distracted the country from its real challenges and priorities,” she added.