Special welcome to Rijiju deepened sense of alienation: Mehbooba

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for “given red carpet welcome” to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, which she claimed “deepened the sense of alienation” within the Muslim community.

Mufti took to X saying after “bulldozing” the Waqf Amendment Bill through Parliament, Minister Kiran Rijiju strategically chose to visit Kashmir.

“He was given red carpet welcome by the Chief Minister of India’s only Muslim majority state—a move that seemed designed and deliberate to signal to the 24 crore Muslims across India that their views hold little weight when the leader of the country’s only Muslim-majority region stands in support,” Mufti said.

She said the visit set against the backdrop of Asia’s largest tulip garden felt like a “public celebration of the community’s marginalisation and disempowerment.”

Mufti also said the “Chief Minister’s actions not only deepened the sense of alienation and helplessness within the Muslim community but also lent legitimacy to this unilateral decision widely perceived as dismissive of their interests.”