Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Jun 2: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to the Kashmiri Pandit community to join hands with local Muslims in pursuing a shared future built on dignity, security, and mutual respect.

In a letter addressed to Sanjay Tickoo, president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, Mufti emphasized the importance of unity and dialogue at a time when Jammu and Kashmir faces growing uncertainty and public discontent. She pointed to the recent progress made by the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance in their discussions with the Government of India, describing their experience as evidence that sincere engagement can produce meaningful results.

Mufti noted that the region is passing through a challenging phase marked by widespread frustration and a sense of political stagnation. She stressed the need for a broad-based consensus that transcends political affiliations and ideological differences to help address the concerns of the people.

According to her, rebuilding public confidence and ensuring the dignity and security of residents requires a constructive and sustained dialogue with the Central government. She called for a united appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to initiate a meaningful and long-term engagement process with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The PDP leader said that political rivalries and competing narratives should be set aside in the larger interest of the region. She underlined that the effort should not be driven by political gains or partisan considerations, but by a collective commitment to the welfare and future of the people.

Appealing directly to Tickoo and the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mufti urged them to move beyond differences and become part of a common initiative aimed at securing peace and stability. She described unity as the most powerful tool available at this critical juncture.

Mufti also expressed hope for a future in which the rights, aspirations, and identity of all residents of Jammu and Kashmir are safeguarded within the framework of the Indian Constitution, paving the way for a peaceful and prosperous society.

Over the years, Mehbooba Mufti has consistently advocated for the return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley and has repeatedly called for renewed harmony between Hindu and Muslim communities. She has often maintained that Kashmir's social and cultural fabric remains incomplete without the presence of the Pandit community and has encouraged efforts to rebuild the traditional bonds that once defined the region.