Mehbooba Mufti Urges Rahul Gandhi to Speak Up on “Disempowerment” of Indian Muslims

Srinagar: Former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, has written a strongly-worded letter to Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, urging him to raise the issue of what she described as the “systematic disempowerment” of Muslims in India. The letter, made public on Monday, is a direct appeal to the Congress leader to break the “political silence” surrounding rising concerns in the Muslim community.

Mehbooba cited a series of recent events—including the Pahalgam terror attack, the government’s Operation Sindoor, and forced evictions in Assam and Bihar—as part of what she termed a “broader, state-driven narrative” targeting Muslims. She expressed concern over the growing use of terms like “Bangladeshis” and “Rohingyas” to dehumanize and criminalize Indian Muslims, particularly in border and northeastern states.

Drawing attention to what she claimed were the bulldozing of thousands of Muslim homes and the misuse of Special Investigation Reports (SIRs) in Bihar, the PDP leader said these actions were being used as tools of collective punishment.

“This silence is not just indifference—it is an erasure. An erasure of identity, of presence, of dignity,” Mehbooba wrote, underscoring the emotional and political alienation being felt in large sections of the community.

She also criticised the media and political ecosystem for being vocal about Hindu persecution in Pakistan and Bangladesh while remaining muted on issues affecting Muslims within India. “Selective empathy weakens the very secular fabric this republic was built upon,” she warned.

In a significant appeal, she invoked the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, stating that the Congress party must reclaim its role as a defender of constitutional values. “The Constitution promises dignity and equality for all. That promise is being broken every day,” she said.

Calling Rahul Gandhi her “last vestige of hope,” Mehbooba wrote, “As a leader from a Muslim-majority region, I have seen firsthand the fear and helplessness that is spreading. I urge you to ensure that the INDIA alliance does not turn its back on the largest minority in the country.”

Her letter comes at a time when the opposition INDIA bloc is gearing up to confront the BJP-led government during the Monsoon Session of Parliament on matters ranging from communal violence to civil liberties.