Put under house arrest as I wanted to visit Pandit family in Shopian: Mehbooba

Centre doesn’t want its fake divisive narrative to be exposed, PDP chief says

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said she was placed under house arrest in Srinagar as she wanted to visit a Pandit family in south Kashmir whose member was attacked by militants recently.

“Placed under house arrest today because I wanted to visit the family of the Kashmiri Pandit attacked in Shopian. The Government of India (GOI) willfully spreads fake propaganda about Kashmiri mainstream and Muslims responsible for Pandit exodus and doesn’t want this fake divisive narrative to be exposed,” Ms. Mufti said. Militants opened fire and injured a Pandit shopkeeper in south Kashmir’s Shopian on April 4 and triggered panic among the non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits living in the Valley.  “Doesn’t take a genius to figure out who will benefit politically by deepening mistrust and sowing seeds of division and hatred,” Ms. Mufti said. The authorities did not respond to the allegations levelled by Ms. Mufti of having been placed under house arrest. Her alleged arrest also came a day after she wished stability and deepening of democracy in Pakistan. “(Former Pakistan Prime Minister) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto used to say that India is alive because of the hustle-bustle of its democracy. Today, we are also seeing the hustle-bustle of democracy in Pakistan and the democracy in that country is gaining roots. Pakistan is our neighbour and we want it to be a stable country,” she said during a public function on Monday.   Meanwhile, Satish Mahaldar, chairman of the J&K Peace forum, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits, said, “The house arrests and illegal arrests must be immediately stopped. She [Mehbooba Mufti] was once seen as a beacon for human rights, a principled leader who gave up her freedom to challenge the ruthless violence in Kashmir. She should be immediately freed.” Mr. Mahaldar said suppression of public voice was undemocratic and against the Constitution.