Mehbooba Mufti Criticises Centre After Delhi Red Fort Blast
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and leader of the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP), reacted strongly to the car-bomb explosion near the Red Fort in New Delhi that killed 13 people and injured more than 20. Addressing a meeting in Srinagar, she said that the attack mirrored the “poisonous atmosphere” she says has prevailed in Kashmir for years. According to Mufti, “the problems of Kashmir were expressed right in front of the Red Fort”.
Allegations Against Government
Mufti accused the central government of projecting “everything is fine” in Jammu & Kashmir while creating an environment of alienation among the region’s youth. She asserted that educated young people in Kashmir had been pushed onto dangerous paths because of what she described as repeated “atrocities” and a “regime of terror”. While she condemned violence, she emphasised that focusing purely on security responses ignores the root causes she believes stem from the region’s unstable situation.
Political Fallout and Next Steps
The comments have ignited a sharp political debate. National-level parties have criticised Mufti’s remarks as placing blame on the government during an active terror investigation, while her party insists the centre must address long-standing grievances in Kashmir. As investigations into the blast continue—examining vehicle movements, suspected terror links and cross-state conspiracies—Mufti’s statement shifts some attention to underlying political and social tensions, not just security failures.
