Rise above politics, back peace efforts, Mehbooba urges Opposition

Former Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday urged opposition parties to “resist the urge for knee-jerk criticism or political point-scoring”.

“Just as the Pahalgam incident united voices from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, there is need to build a national consensus around a peace process that safeguards national interests,” she said.

Mufti said leaders like former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh “proved that cross-border engagement is possible even in tense times without compromising security or sovereignty”.

“The Modi government should not be politically penalised for exploring peaceful means. This is a time for bipartisan statesmanship not division,” she said.

She noted the “opposition must rise above politics and support genuine efforts for peace and stability”. Mufti said those who criticise the ceasefire from the comfort of air-conditioned studios and drawing rooms “should spend time with families on the borders to truly understand the daily reality of death and destruction”.

J & K