To entice Kashmiri youth into mainstream politics not an easy task: Iltija Mufti

“While campaigning for the PDP in the Lok Sabha elections I received tremendous love and respect from the people especially womenfolk and the youngsters, not only in the Kashmir Valley but also in the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. I felt that it is ample for the people who have lived in a constant state of fear, worry and uncertainty in the past five years even if you go to them just to ask about their welfare. It makes them feel relaxed,” she told this correspondent in an interview.

As a new generation of leaders is trying to shape up politics in Jammu and Kashmir, Ms. Iltija, by any yardstick, is making her mark. But will the political prowess the 36-year-old Ms. Iltija may have inherited help PDP to reach out to the young Kashmiris who have grown up under the shadow of guns and are trying to adjust to a new situation?

When asked about it, she said, “It is not the question of it being easy or tough. In the Jammu and Kashmir conflict everyone has been inflicted with so many wounds. You can’t single someone out and say he or she alone has suffered. Violence doesn’t discriminate. When a place is caught in violence and mayhem everyone becomes a victim”.

She asserted, “Here hearts are wounded, and it has passed from generation to generation. A grandfather saw how the boys of his generation were beaten up and abused…how human rights violations were committed. Then his son and, thereafter, his grandson also saw it happening. It has been a generation of conflict and trauma. Since all this has passed from generation to generation, we must apply balm on everybody’s wounds and that’s why my grandfather (Mufti Muhammad Sayeed) had announced a policy (of governance) known as the ‘healing touch policy’. If you want to express sympathy, you can’t set boundaries for it. It ought to be for everyone.”

Ms. Iltija, however, also said that J&K is a different and difficult state where there is “a lot of resentment” against India. “So, what are you going to do as a politician? What line should you follow? It is a fine line. It is a precarious line. It is very difficult to tread upon it. As a politician you face many difficult issues here.”

She added, “Many people think you should not be too much pro-India. There is anti-India sentiment there in large amounts. Therefore, it is not easy for a politician to endure here. But as far as my political journey is concerned, let time speak for itself.”

Ms. Iltija asserted that the PDP and its leadership had tried to bridge the gap between J&K and the rest of the country, but the steps taken by the Centre on August 5, 2019 pushed even moderate people of the erstwhile state towards the extremist camp. “In this backdrop, our responsibility is to talk about democracy and upholding the Constitution which, however, is incredibly difficult more so now.”

She added, “What they did in August 2019 made Pakistan’s job easier. Whatever their claims, the truth is that the anti-India sentiment has sharpened. They imprisoned us like animals are caged in a zoo and then committed daylight robbery. So, it is going to be very difficult for us because when we go to the people and talk about democracy and Constitution, they ask us which democracy and Constitution you talk about…they (Centre) have taken out the janaza (funeral procession) of democracy and thrown the Constitution in the dustbin here. The special status that J&K had was given to it by the Indian Constitution. So, this is a very difficult task and sometimes even I feel cornered. But we have to get the people on to the path of democracy and the path of peace. There is no alternative there.”