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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Prioritise civil issues over investing on war machinery: Mehbooba
Former J&K chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday urged India and Pakistan to prioritise mitigating poverty and providing potable water, healthcare and education to their people instead of investing in war machinery. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti during a public rally on the 26th Foundation Day of the party in Srinagar. (Waseem Andrabi /HT) On 26th Foundation Day of the party, Mehbooba also called for reconciliation, dialogue & demilitarisation in Jammu & Kashmir and asked the Centre not to look at the J&K issue through the prism of security. 'What is India's foreign policy without J&K at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering . Wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery and India once revered as the 'hathi' for its strength and wisdom, has shackled J&K with a heavy-handed approach.' Giving an example of China, the former J&K chief minister said that China's GDP shows us where India stands today. 'These are not my words but a reflection of our misplaced priorities,' she said while quoting India's external affairs minister. Mufti said that our country grapples with poverty. 'Many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and clean drinking water, yet we prioritise buying weapons and deploying more CRPF companies. How much security is enough? Militarisation cannot heal wounds. Until the Centre embraces the people of Jammu and Kashmir with empathy and addresses their genuine aspirations, no progress will be made.' PDP president in an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.'PM Modi with the mandate of 120 crore people, you have the power to rewrite the story of J&K. If India is to surpass nations like China, it must end this war-like system and take concrete steps toward reconciliation. Restore the trust of the people by engaging in a process that respects their dignity and rights.' She however criticised the Centre's approach to governance in the region and said the revocation of Article 370 has not brought peace or prosperity but has deepened alienation. 'The people of J&K are not enemies; they are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship.'
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PM Modi can rewrite J&K's history with dialogue: Mehbooba Mufti
SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the power to 'rewrite J&K's history by resolving the Kashmir issue if he wishes', former CM Mehbooba Mufti asserted Monday, urging the Centre to abandon its 'security-centric approach' and embrace meaningful reconciliation and dialogue. Addressing the 26th foundation day of her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba criticised the Centre's approach to governance in the region, saying 'the revocation of Article 370 hasn't brought peace or prosperity, only deepened alienation'. The PDP chief stressed that Kashmir was at the 'heart' of foreign policy and Kashmiris first victims of tensions with Pakistan. 'What is India's foreign policy without Jammu and Kashmir at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering, wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery and India, once revered as the elephant for its strength and wisdom, has shackled J&K with a heavy-handed approach,' Mehbooba told hundreds of PDP workers at Srinagar's Sheri Kashmir Park. The ex-CM bemoaned what she claimed was a planned boost in force deployments. 'Now, govt says we will bring 20 more battalions to J&K. How many more troops will you send here? How can it make a difference?' she asked. Mehbooba stressed that 'the people of J&K are not enemies'. 'They are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship.' The Mehbooba-led PDP is often criticised by J&K's governing National Conference (NC) for her party's alliance with BJP in 2015, leading to a coalition govt helmed by her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as chief minister. Mehbooba defended the move, saying the tie-up with BJP was for peace and reconciliation and she was not 'ashamed' of it. According to Mehbooba, PDP has been in power for six of the past 26 years since its formation, but its approach has remained the same, whether in govt or opposition -- unwavering commitment to dialogue, a vision set by founder Sayeed. 'PDP has always championed engagement over suppression. Our goal is a peaceful, prosperous J&K, integrated with India through mutual respect, not coercion,' Mehbooba said.
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre should abandon security-centric approach, engage in dialogue to resolve J&K issues: Mehbooba Mufti
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, speaking on the party's 26th foundation day on Monday (July 28, 2025), said the Centre should shun the path of war and begin talks to resolve the Kashmir issue. 'The recent (India-Pakistan) war (after the Pahalgam attack) achieved nothing but destruction on this side and an unwanted arms race in the region. I don't know what happened on that side. PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed always talked about friendship, peace and opposed war. India has to play the role of big brother in the region,' Ms. Mufti said while addressing the party workers at the Sher-i-Kashmir Park. She urged the Centre 'to abandon its security-centric approach in J&K and embrace meaningful reconciliation and dialogue to address the region's long-standing issues'. Ms. Mufti said the leadership of J&K has a 'role in advising India to enter into a dialogue and avoid war'. 'The war is always played out in J&K. What is India's foreign policy without J&K at its heart? Decades of conflict have brought only suffering, wars end, only to be replaced by new ones. Pakistan has invested in war machinery, and India, once revered as the 'hathi' for its strength and wisdom, has shackled Jammu and Kashmir with a heavy-handed approach,' Ms. Mufti said. Lack of basic facilities Highlighting the socio-economic neglect the region was facing, Ms. Mufti said, 'Our country grapples with poverty, many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and clean drinking water, yet we prioritise buying weapons and deploying more CRPF companies to J&K. How much security is enough? Militarisation cannot heal wounds. Until the Centre embraces the people of Jammu and Kashmir with empathy and addresses their genuine aspirations, no progress will be made,' Ms. Mufti. Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the mandate and power to resolve the Kashmir issue, Ms. Mufti said, 'PM ModiJi has the power to rewrite the story of J&K. If India is to surpass nations like China, it must end this war-like system and take concrete steps toward reconciliation. Restore the trust of the people by engaging in a process that respects their dignity and rights.' She also underlined that the revocation of Article 370 in 2019 has 'only deepened alienation'. 'The people of J&K are not enemies; they are citizens seeking justice and inclusion. The Centre must stop treating this region as a security problem and start addressing it as a political issue requiring dialogue and statesmanship,' she added. She said her party stand is 'commitment to dialogue, a vision set by its founder, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed'. 'Our goal is a peaceful, prosperous J&K, integrated with India through mutual respect, not coercion. Peace with dignity and not peace through war is needed,' she said. The PDP also urged the Centre to initiate a credible process, restore democratic institutions in its true sense, and prioritise the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to build a future of peace and progress.
Otago Daily Times
15 hours ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Urban planning gives town ‘deferential' treatment
Arrowtown. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY An independent commissioner has questioned why Arrowtown should receive special treatment when it comes to the Queenstown Lakes District Council's proposed urban intensification variation. Hearing panel chairman David Allen, commissioner Ian Munro and Wanaka-based district councillor Lyal Cocks began the first week of submissions hearings on the proposal in Arrowtown yesterday. The variation seeks to amend the proposed district plan by increasing heights and densities in residential and business zones close to the commercial centres in Queenstown, Arrowtown, Frankton and Wanaka to enable intensification of development. It stems from a government mandate — policy 5 of the National Policy Statement for Urban Development — that urban centres have to zone for denser, more affordable housing. Almost 40% of submissions received came from Arrowtown residents or ratepayers, many of whom were horrified at the possibility of 12m-high housing — 11m plus a pitched roof — in the historic village, which could apply to 266 medium density-zoned properties. In a report to the panel, council resource management policy principal planner Amy Bowbyes recommended a rule be amended for that zone in Arrowtown, to enable a building height of 9m (8m plus a pitched roof), which was essentially two-storey development. In the lower density suburban residential zone in Arrowtown, she recommended a height of 6.5m, and restricted discretionary building height band of 6.5m to 8m. However, Mr Munro yesterday challenged the council's lawyer, Sarah Scott, of Simpson Grierson, on that. "I've had the, I'd say, pleasure of being invited to be a commissioner for nearly 40 years in this district, and it is just not the case that only Arrowtown has beautiful residential streets, one or two-storey houses, and has charming views of the [outstanding natural landscapes] behind them ... and extremely rich character and very high [amenity] values," he said. "Why does nowhere else in this district's urban zones get the same deferential balancing of this character and amenity if it's a valid resource consent management way to apply policy5? "The question is, if it's good for one part of the district ... why would we not ask for the same approach to be used elsewhere, too?" Ms Scott said there were "bespoke provisions" for other parts of the district, but from a legal perspective, Arrowtown's special recommendation was in the operative district plan (ODP) and proposed district plan (PDP). "Perhaps Arrowtown people have fought harder ... but the facts are, it's in the PDP, it was in the ODP and it's been recognised for some time." She told the panel the district-wide variation amends the proposed plan by increasing heights and densities in some urban zones, and by amending provisions to recognise the benefits of intensification, to ensure adequate amenity values were provided for within intensification areas, and to ensure intensification can be serviced. "It's very hard to draw a line in the sand here, but it essentially requires almost a merits-based assessment of the changes requested — it is actually about ensuring that the greater densities can ... be realised." Mr Munro questioned how that was not contradictory as it pertained to the discussion about Arrowtown. "The purpose of this plan change is ... to investigate what the correct amenity values and intensification areas are [across the district]. "Surely that opens the ability of submitters to say the correct amenity values in [their] intensification area is to have less intensification?" While Ms Scott said the council had treated such submissions as "out of scope", there was a pathway for the panel to respond to them. The hearing continues.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mehboob urges Centre to take path of ‘dialogue and reconciliation': ‘What's India's foreign policy without J&K'
People Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti Monday urged the central government to 'leave wars behind' and take the path of 'dialogue and reconciliation' if the country is to progress. Addressing the PDP's 26th foundation day at the Sher-e-Kashmir park in Srinagar, Mufti said: 'India a big country, it has to behave like an elder brother and maintain friendly relations with its neighbours.' The former J&K chief minister said that when a Kashmiri speaks about India's neighbours, they are reminded not to interfere in India's foreign police. However, she said: 'I want to ask the government at the Centre, what is India's foreign policy without Jammu and Kashmir?' J&K should be India's crown and 'not a shackle around its ankles', she said. 'Hum dakhal denge (We will interfere in foreign policy) and urge you to become an older brother because your wars are fought in J&K,' Mufti said. Referring to the exchange of fire between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor, she said: 'It caused a lot of destruction — our kids, mothers and fathers lost their lives. I can't say what it achieved. That war ended but the race to procure weapons by both countries got expedited'. She underscored that while China is progressing, Pakistan was living off debt and 'our nation provides free ration to 80 crore people. Our schools and hospitals lack infrastructure, however, we want the latest guns for the sake of war'. She also stated that the government sent several emissaries abroad to apprise foreign governments about Operation Sindoor and the state of affairs in J&K. 'So then if Kashmiris don't emphasise on dialogue, who will?' J&K has remained a challenge for every prime minister, and 'there have been very few PMs with authority and power', she said. 'I have no hesitation in asserting that Modiji can resolve the Kashmir issue, if he wills. He has been chosen by 120 crore people and he has the power to do it.' Speaking of enhanced security presence, use of laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) in Kashmir, and the 'thousands languishing in jails,' she said: 'This issue will not get resolved, till you listen to the people'. She highlighted that the people of J&K want 'peace with dignity' and 'not peace enforced through war', and spoke about the atrocities against Muslims in the country, adding that those actions also affect the people of J&K.
