Rare Iftar bonhomie on display between arch rivals NC, PDP

Amid the ongoing political bickering in Jammu and Kashmir, which has further intensified during the current legislative Assembly session, arch-rivals the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) are displaying rare Iftar bonhomie as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.

On Wednesday evening, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti attended an Iftar party hosted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. This came after Mehbooba had earlier invited Omar and his father, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, to an Iftar reception in Jammu. At the event, Mehbooba welcomed the two senior NC leaders with flower bouquets.

On Tuesday, more Iftar diplomacy unfolded between the Valley’s two most powerful political families. Omar Abdullah’s sons, Zahir and Zamir, who have been increasingly active at party events, attended an Iftar hosted by Mehbooba Mufti at her Gupkar Road residence. A photograph of the third generation of both families—Zahir and Zamir alongside Mehbooba’s daughter, Iltija—breaking their fast together has been circulating on social media.

The two family-led parties, which came together in 2019 as part of the Gupkar Alliance, later fell out over seat-sharing and other issues during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. In the ongoing Budget session, the PDP has continued its criticism of the NC.

Political experts suggest it is too early to determine whether this newfound camaraderie extends beyond the Iftar gatherings. “At present, it appears to be a matter of basic courtesy—an exchange of invitations and attendance between the two political families in Kashmir,” said Srinagar-based political commentator Professor Noor Baba. He added that, historically, political differences did not always affect personal relationships in Indian politics. “Politically, there isn’t much to analyse at this stage. Let’s see how things develop,” he said.

National Conference state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar urged people not to view the Iftar gatherings through a political lens. “Such events bring together people across party lines. This is not unique to Jammu and Kashmir but is a common practice across the country, where political opponents often participate in such gatherings,” he said.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the subsequent Covid-19 pandemic, the tradition of political Iftar parties had seen a decline. However, with elections held last year and a government now in place, this Ramadan witnessed a resurgence of Iftar receptions hosted by political parties, including several by cabinet ministers.