SRINAGAR: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said the Supreme Court’s reference to the Pahalgam terror attack during a hearing on the plea for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood exposes the Centre’s lack of confidence in the region’s stability, even after it was downgraded to a union territory.
In a post on X, she added that the BJP-led central government seems reluctant to loosen its grip over Jammu and Kashmir.
The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to respond within eight weeks to a petition seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“You cannot ignore what happened in Pahalgam… It is for Parliament and the Executive to take a decision,” Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai remarked while senior lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, requested an early hearing.
Mehbooba Mufti wrote, “The SC’s reference to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in the context of statehood underscores the deeper issue of the government’s continued lack of confidence in the region’s stability.” Even after revoking J&K’s special status, she said, the Centre remains unwilling to ease its tight control. “This reflects a deeper political and psychological deadlock,” the former chief minister added.
She further emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir issue extends beyond statehood or constitutional status. “Unless New Delhi engages with the political aspirations of the people and addresses the core issues directly, stability will remain elusive despite the force it deploys. The government must correct past missteps and initiate a sincere process of dialogue and reconciliation to bring lasting peace and dignity to the region,” Mehbooba said.
