ISLAMABAD: Former chief minister of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and President of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mehbooba Mufti, has accused the BJP-led Indian government and the National Conference administration of attempting to erode the identity of the region by targeting Islamic institutions and cultural markers.
Speaking to reporters after a workers’ convention in Ganderbal, she said the authorities were systematically shutting down religious seminaries.
According to her, institutions such as Madinatul Uloom, where Arabic and Islamic studies were taught, had already been closed, while similar action was now being taken against Sirajul Uloom, which provided both religious and modern education.
“This is an attack on our identity,” Mufti said, alleging that both New Delhi and the Srinagar-based government were pursuing a specific agenda aimed at weakening the region’s distinct character.
She also criticized recent changes in recruitment rules, claiming that the removal of Urdu as a mandatory requirement for jobs in the revenue department was part of a broader attempt to dilute the region’s cultural identity.
Responding to remarks by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who denied any such change, Mufti insisted that earlier regulations required Urdu proficiency, while a 2026 order only mandates a graduate degree without mentioning the language.
“The head of the government is lying,” she said, adding that documentary evidence exists to support her claim.
Mufti further expressed concern over employment opportunities, stating that locals were being sidelined in key sectors. She alleged that mining contracts, once a source of livelihood for residents, were now being awarded to outsiders.
“With limited job opportunities, people are struggling. Many are forced to sell valuables to secure employment,” she said, accusing the National Conference government of enabling such practices.
.jpg)
.jpg)