Mehbooba pushes for ‘Ladakh-like’ political consensus to resolve J&K issues

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday launched a fresh political outreach initiative, urging leaders across party lines to unite and seek a sustained dialogue with the Centre on the issue of restoration of statehood and other contentious matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

In separate letters addressed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a host of political, social and community leaders, Mehbooba called for a “Ladakh-like united outreach” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, arguing that only dialogue can break the political stalemate in Jammu and Kashmir.

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Drawing parallels with the recent engagement between the Centre and Ladakh’s Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, the PDP chief said the developments in Ladakh offered an important lesson that “only dialogue can deliver meaningful outcomes.”

The outreach spans a broad political spectrum, with letters sent to Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma of the BJP, J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami, People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone, Awami Ittehad Party MP Engineer Rashid, AAP leader Mehraj Malik, PDF chairman Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Panthers Party president Harsh Dev Singh, Shiv Sena leader Manish Sahni, Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo and Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee chairman Jaspal Singh.

In her letter to CM Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba revealed that she had sought an appointment with him but decided to write after being unable to secure a meeting. “Time is running out and we cannot afford to delay things any further,” she wrote, warning that Jammu and Kashmir once again stands at a critical juncture marked by widespread despair and disillusionment.

Calling for a broad political consensus beyond party affiliations, Mehbooba argued that restoring the dignity and security of the people requires a constructive engagement with the Government of India.

“The time has come to make a united outreach to the Prime Minister and Home Minister and prevail upon them to initiate a sustained dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she stated.

The former chief minister also appealed to political parties to put aside ideological differences and rivalries for the larger public interest.
“This cannot become a matter of appropriating political credit or point scoring. Rather, it must become a moment of unification in the largest interest of people we all claim to represent,” she wrote.

Urging Omar Abdullah to convene an all-party meeting, Mehbooba said such a gathering could serve as the first step towards building a common platform and formally engaging with the Centre. She maintained that political divisions among regional parties since 2019 had weakened Jammu and Kashmir’s collective voice and that a reasonable consensus was now essential.

“If Ladakh could do it, so can we,” she remarked.
Emphasising the need for immediate action, Mehbooba said genuine unity among political and social stakeholders could help restore the rights and dignity of the people guaranteed under the Constitution.

“I sincerely request you to immediately call a formal meeting that includes political parties across Jammu and Kashmir. We simply cannot drag our feet any longer,” she wrote.