Talk by Ms Mehbooba Mufti on Kashmir: The Way Forward

About the Talk

Following the killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, in 2016, the conflict in Kashmir seems to have entered a new phase. Radicalisation has made deep inroads into the society, eroding the communal and societal harmony that for long characterised Kashmiriyat, the Valley’s unique syncretic tradition. The Kashmiri youth seem to have been overwhelmed by a deep sense of alienation, leading to the dangerous trend of home-grown insurgency. This new form of radicalised militancy presents a marked departure from the secessionist politics of the Hurriyat Conference. The state is on the edge as over 600 militants – mostly local boys – have been killed in a sudden spate of violence since July 2016. With each killing, Kashmir has seen a disturbing trend of militancy gaining wider societal acceptance – with the young as well as the old rushing to encounter sites to thwart the security operations and help the militants escape. The growing radicalisation reminds us of the great Kalhana who wrote in Rajatarangni, “Kashmir can be won by Power of Sprit (love) … but not by power of Sword (force)”. Kalhana’s philosophy, written in Sanskrit verse in the 12th century, begs to be understood in its true sense today, more than ever before. To add to the woes of the Valley, the recent months have also been marked with political instability. In her talk, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of J&K, will throw light on what has led to the current situation and whether the democratic space in the state is shrinking. What is the way forward? What are the steps the government should take to stop the violence and give peace a chance under the ambit of the Constitution of India?

About the Speaker

Ms. Mehbooba Mufti is the President of the J&K People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who served as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 4th April 2016 to 19th June 2018. She resigned on 19th June 2018 after the BJP withdrew support from the coalition government. She was the first woman to hold the office of the Chief Minister in the state. Mehbooba Mufti os India's second Muslim woman chief minister after Syeda Anwara Taimur of Assam. She was member of the Indian parliament, representing Anantnag constituency in the 16th Lok Sabha; before she was sworn in as the Chief Minister of J&K. She had previously represented Anantnag in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004–09) but did not contest the 2009 election for the 15th Lok Sabha.

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The event will be from 3 pm onwards