‘I Understand Your Pain, Feel Ashamed’: PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti Expresses Solidarity With Kashmiri Pandits

Ahead of the polling on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha, former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti today said that she grew up among Kashmiri Pandits and she could "understand their pain".

File Photo Of Mehbooba Mufti

Source : PTI Images

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti addressed a gathering of Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday, May 19. During the meeting, Mufti said that she could understand the plight of the Kashmiri Pandit community. 

"I understand your pain. I can imagine how the elderly feel when they remember Kashmir. I feel a bit ashamed about it," Mufti stated. 

Mufti, in her speech, highlighted that the pain began within their own homes and mentioned the suffering her family also endured. "This is why, when my father became the Chief Minister, he made numerous efforts to maintain the relationship between the majority and minority communities," she said. 

She further added, "I grew up among Kashmiri Pandits. My childhood was spent with Hindus, Kashmiri Pandits, and Sikhs. My father believed in maintaining the relationship between the majority and minority communities. I understand how important it is for all of us to live together."

#WATCH | Jammu, J&K: Addressing a meeting with Kashmiri Pandits, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti says, "I understand your pain... I have the idea of how older people might feel when they miss Kashmir. I am also a little embarrassed about... The beginning of the pain was from our house.… pic.twitter.com/mOhUTIGtvT

— ANI (@ANI) May 19, 2024

Mehbooba Mufti is contesting the elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. The BJP has not fielded a candidate for this seat. The primary contenders are Mufti from the PDP and Mian Altaf Ahmed from the National Conference. Voting for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat is scheduled for 25 May, after being rescheduled from May 7 due to requests from several political parties. 

Additionally, voting for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat will take place on May 20. Earlier phases saw voting on April 19 for the Udhampur seat, April 26 for the Jammu seat, and May 13 for the Srinagar sear. Jammu and Kashmir has a total of five Lok Sabha seats. 

READ | 'J&K Polls Went Well, But...': PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti