Mehbooba Mufti’s latest remarks on the deadly Red Fort car blast mark a new political low for a leader whose party has long lost the trust and mandate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. With the PDP reduced to irrelevance and its support collapsing across the Valley, Mufti has now resorted to a dangerous narrative one that indirectly whitewashes terrorism and echoes the arguments of extremist sympathisers.
By claiming that the suicide attack was a reflection of “Kashmir’s troubles,” she attempted to twist a clear case of terror into a political grievance. But in New India, those who flirt with terror narratives will be firmly exposed.
The BJP has also come down heavily on PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti after she attempted to spin the November 10 Red Fort terror blast into a political narrative attacking the Centre. Instead of condemning the suicide bomber responsible for killing 13 innocent citizens, Mufti bizarrely linked the incident to “Kashmir’s troubles,” suggesting that the Centre’s policies were responsible for the attack. For a former Chief Minister, this attempt to dilute the gravity of a terror strike reveals how politically cornered the PDP has become.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari minced no words, reminding Mufti’s history of defending extremists. Calling the PDP the “Pro Terrorist Development Party,” he said her remarks once again show where her allegiance lies when faced with decisive action against terrorism.
Mufti’s comments were made despite clear evidence from the National Investigation Agency: the blast was carried out using a “vehicle-borne IED” driven by Kashmir-based suicide bomber Umar Nabi. Instead of condemning such radicalisation, she shockingly said that “the troubles of Kashmir echoed at the Red Fort” and claimed Delhi had become unsafe because of government policies.
Her remark that “a well-educated youth, a doctor, strapping RDX to his body reflects a deeper crisis” appears to excuse extremist behaviour rather than confront it. In reality, Kashmir’s overwhelming sentiment today is for peace, growth, investment, tourism, and jobs not for terror. Mufti’s attempt to project terrorism as an expression of Kashmir’s grievances is not just false it is insulting to the people of Kashmir who have rejected separatism.
This is not the first time Mehbooba Mufti has shown softness toward extremist elements. Her defence of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in the past, her repeated attacks on security agencies, and her criticism of anti-terror operations have long earned her the tag of being sympathetic to separatists.
By dragging “Hindu-Muslim politics” into a terror investigation, Mufti once again tried to communalise a terrorist attack. India today is not interested in such divisive rhetoric. Under the Centre’s approach, terrorism has been hit at its roots, separatist networks dismantled, and financing channels choked. Her frustration stems from the fact that the PDP no longer finds a place in this environment of zero-tolerance.
Meanwhile, the NIA continues its crackdown. Along with Umar Nabi, the agency arrested Amir Rashid Ali registered owner of the car used in the blast for conspiring in the attack. This is firm evidence of an organised terror module, not the “voice of Kashmir” as Mufti attempted to project.
India today has made it clear that terrorism will not be shielded under any pretext be it political opportunism, victimhood narrative, or separatist propaganda. By accusing the Centre of creating “hate,” Mehbooba Mufti conveniently ignored the fact that her party’s decades of soft-separatist politics helped radicalise youth something the present government has systematically dismantled.
Her remarks come at a time when the Valley is witnessing record tourism, massive developmental projects, improved connectivity, booming local businesses, and declining terror incidents. This is the real Kashmir progress-oriented and ready for a peaceful future. Terror attacks like the Red Fort blast are attempts by desperate terror modules, not reflections of Kashmiri society.
Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks on the Red Fort blast were not just irresponsible they were an attempt to give political context to terrorism. But New India stands firm: those who justify or shield extremist actions will face political and public rejection. Kashmir today wants development, dignity, and peace not the outdated politics of grievance and appeasement. The PDP may be struggling for survival, but using terror incidents to remain relevant crosses every democratic line. The Red Fort blast was a terror attack nothing more, nothing less and India will ensure that the masterminds and sympathisers of such acts are decisively dealt with.