PDP chief slams curbs on protests, warns against silencing youth as frustration deepens in J&K
BuzzBytes
ANANTNAG, Dec 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday said her party’s outreach initiative Kath Baath is meant to “break the suffocation” prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir and reconnect with people, especially the youth who feel increasingly unheard and disillusioned. Addressing participants in Anantnag, she said the voices of the younger generation greatly inspire her and reaffirm her faith in dialogue as the foundation of a democratic society.
“Every word from the young generation fuels my learning, strengthens my resolve, and deepens my inspiration,” Mehbooba said, underlining that the Kath Baath programme seeks to create a space for candid conversation where citizens can express their grievances and aspirations directly.
During the event, the former chief minister sharply criticised the administration for imposing curbs on protests against the reservation policy, terming the move unconstitutional. She said that detaining political leaders like Iltija Mufti, Waheed Parra, and National Conference MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi ahead of a student-led demonstration in Srinagar reflected a “dangerous shrinking of democratic space.”
“Even peaceful protests are not being permitted — this is unjustified in a society that calls itself democratic,” Mehbooba asserted, adding that silencing dissent only deepens alienation among young people. “When you deny the youth an outlet to speak, you build pressure that eventually bursts like a cooker,” she warned.
The PDP chief said that her Kath Baath outreach aims to revive dialogue at the grassroots level and restore trust between people and institutions. The Anantnag leg of the programme saw the participation of students, party workers, and residents who shared perspectives on unemployment, governance, and regional development. PDP leaders said the campaign will travel to other districts in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to rebuild direct public engagement across Jammu and Kashmir.
Expressing concern over deteriorating economic conditions, Mehbooba said traditional sectors like horticulture and tourism, once the lifelines of the region’s economy, are under serious stress. She said the growing unemployment is fueling anxiety and hopelessness among educated youth, warning that continued neglect could have serious repercussions.
Mehbooba also lamented the weakening of India’s plural ethos, warning that sectarian tension and intolerance were corroding the country’s social fabric. She described Jammu and Kashmir as a “vibrant symbol of communal harmony” where people of different faiths have lived together peacefully for generations. “Even as hatred spreads elsewhere, Kashmir stands as an example of coexistence,” she said.
Reiterating her message of reconciliation, Mehbooba Mufti said sustainable peace cannot be achieved by force or fear. “Restoring democratic rights, empowering our youth, and listening to their voices is the only way forward,” she said, urging the Centre and the J&K administration to rebuild trust through dialogue and accountability.
