The Kashmir Pulse

NEW DELHI — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged people across the country to defend the Constitution and their democratic rights, saying Jammu and Kashmir’s experience following the 2019 constitutional changes should serve as a warning for the rest of India.

Addressing a gathering at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister alleged that the Union Territory had suffered a loss of democratic rights and constitutional protections, and cautioned against what she described as attempts to weaken democratic institutions elsewhere in the country.

“We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, have been destroyed. In 2019, they destroyed the Constitution. But now, you children, don't let the whole country become Jammu and Kashmir,” Mehbooba said.

She argued that the constitutional changes in Jammu and Kashmir reflected what could happen elsewhere if constitutional safeguards and democratic institutions were weakened.

Referring to the right to vote, Mehbooba said the Constitution empowered citizens to elect governments and remove them through the ballot, but alleged that the ruling dispensation was attempting to take away that right.

“The Constitution has given you the vote to change governments. They want to snatch that right from you,” she said.

The PDP president also criticised the BJP-led government at the Centre, alleging that it was weakening constitutional principles despite, in her assessment, failing to secure a mandate to change the Constitution in the 2024 general elections.

She alleged that although the Constitution had not been formally replaced, efforts were being made to hollow it out.

Mehbooba also accused the government of favouring powerful business interests at the expense of ordinary citizens. She alleged that public assets built over decades were being handed over to select businessmen while poor families faced displacement and economic hardship.

Referring to the demolition of homes and the cutting of trees, she claimed that land was being made available to private business interests at throwaway prices, with little benefit reaching poorer sections of society.

She questioned the Centre’s record on employment generation and criticised changes to military recruitment, apparently referring to the Agnipath scheme.

The PDP chief also targeted the BJP over its Hindutva politics and raised allegations about donations collected in the name of the Ram temple. She alleged irregularities in the handling of donations, describing the matter as shameful. The supplied material does not provide details or evidence to substantiate these allegations.

Returning to the issue of constitutional rights, Mehbooba sought to link the concerns of people in Jammu and Kashmir with those of citizens elsewhere in India.

“We are with you in your struggle,” she told the gathering, expressing solidarity with those seeking to protect democratic institutions and constitutional guarantees.

Describing Jammu and Kashmir as central to the country’s identity, she called the region the soul of India and an embodiment of the “idea of India”. She said its people wanted to stand alongside fellow citizens in defending the principles on which the republic was founded.

Mehbooba concluded her address by reciting the patriotic verse “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara”, drawing applause from the gathering.

NEW DELHI — National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said Muslims should not be repeatedly required to prove their patriotism, asserting that the community had made sacrifices for India and remained committed to the country's unity and integrity.

Addressing a gathering at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi in the presence of senior opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Abdullah criticised the BJP and RSS over what he described as repeated questioning of Muslim loyalty to the country.

“These people always point fingers at Muslims and call them Pakistanis. I want to tell the BJP and RSS that we have given our blood for this country. We gave our blood yesterday, we are giving it today and we will give it tomorrow as well,” Abdullah said.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said Muslims wanted to live in India and contribute to its progress, rejecting attempts to question their patriotism on religious grounds.

“We want to live in this country and strengthen this country,” he said.

Abdullah also criticised the Election Commission, alleging that the deletion of names from electoral rolls was undermining citizens' democratic rights.

Referring to remarks made by Akhilesh Yadav, he claimed that more than one crore Hindu voters had been removed from electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh and questioned whether they, too, would be labelled Pakistanis.

“You have removed more than one crore Hindus from the voting lists in Uttar Pradesh. Are they also Pakistanis?” Abdullah asked.

The allegation about voter deletions was made by Abdullah during his address and could not be independently verified.

Calling for people of different religious communities to stand together, Abdullah said Indians should resist attempts to divide society and undermine constitutional rights.

“Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis are all Indians. They will live as Indians and die as Indians,” he said.

Invoking B R Ambedkar, Abdullah said the Constitution guaranteed equal rights to every citizen, including the right to vote.

“This is Ambedkar's Constitution. This is India's Constitution. We are all equal under it, and every one of us has an equal right to vote,” he said.

He urged opposition parties and citizens to collectively oppose any attempt to disenfranchise voters, asserting that power in a democracy ultimately rested with the people.

“The power is with the people. Use that power, strengthen it and tell those who are supporting them that they are on the wrong path,” Abdullah said.

He also asked people not to fear those in authority, saying governments and political leaders would change but citizens remained the ultimate source of democratic power.

Abdullah further called for inclusive development, saying India could not become strong and prosperous if any section of society was left behind.

“If you want to save India, everyone has to work together to take the country forward. If any section is left behind in development, India cannot become strong,” he said.

Reiterating Jammu and Kashmir's place within India, Abdullah said the region's status as part of the country would remain unchanged.

“Jammu and Kashmir was part of India before, it is part of India today and it will remain part of India tomorrow. Nobody can change that,” he said.

Abdullah concluded his address by raising slogans of “Jai Hind” and asking those present to join him in reaffirming their commitment to the country.

SRINAGAR — Unemployed agriculture graduates in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday called off their 42-day-long strike following a meeting with Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, who assured them that their genuine demands would be addressed soon.

The breakthrough came after the minister discussed two key proposals with the protesting graduates: a 50:50 recruitment formula for gazetted posts and the merger of two non-gazetted cadres to create a common post at the panchayat level.

Speaking to the news agency KNS, Dar said the government was committed to addressing the concerns of unemployed agriculture graduates.

“I met the delegation and listened to their concerns. Their demands are genuine, and I have assured them that these will be fulfilled soon. We will hold further discussions to resolve the outstanding issues,” he told KNS.

Following the meeting, representatives of the protesting graduates announced their decision to end the agitation, saying the minister’s assurances had opened the way for further discussions with the government.

A representative of the delegation said the meeting was constructive and that the minister had acknowledged their concerns.

On recruitment to gazetted posts, the minister proposed a 50:50 formula, under which half the vacancies would be filled through direct recruitment and the remaining half through departmental candidates, the representative said.

Regarding non-gazetted recruitment, the delegation said Dar had proposed merging the Agriculture Extension Assistant (AEA) and Junior Agriculture Extension Officer (JAEO) posts into a single cadre without reducing their combined strength.

The proposed common post would be available at the panchayat level, potentially creating a unified recruitment structure within the Agriculture Department.

The graduates said the proposals would require further discussions before any final decision could be taken.

“We are calling off our strike for now on the strength of the assurances given by the minister. We will continue to follow up on these issues and expect the government to take concrete steps,” the representative said.

The delegation also thanked the Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir for supporting their concerns and the Director Agriculture Kashmir for facilitating discussions with the government.

The graduates acknowledged the support extended by students, researchers, scholars and others during their 42-day agitation.

Although the strike has ended, the proposed recruitment formula and cadre merger remain under consideration, with further discussions expected between the government and the graduates.

The protesters said they would continue to follow up on the minister’s assurances until their demands were formally addressed.