Srinagar: Mehbooba Mufti, President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized the recent visit by Indian Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to the region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti described the visit, which follows the approval of the Waqf Amendment Act, as a “designed and deliberate” move that reflects the diminishing influence of Muslim views in India and Kashmir.

In a social media post, Mufti expressed that Rijiju’s visit to the renowned Tulip Garden in Kashmir seemed to symbolize a public celebration of the marginalization and disempowerment of the Muslim community. The Kashmir Media Service reported Mufti’s assertion that the minister’s red-carpet reception by the Chief Minister of the Muslim-majority state was strategically planned to convey a message to the 24 crore Muslims across India about the insignificance of their perspectives.

Mufti also highlighted that the actions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the visit exacerbated the sense of alienation and helplessness within the Muslim community. She claimed that Abdullah’s stance lent legitimacy to the unilateral decision, which many viewed as dismissive of Muslim interests.

The visit and its implications have sparked discussion and concern among political circles and the general populace, reflecting ongoing tensions in the region.