Mehbooba Mufti: 14,000 J&K youth cases dropped under PDP-BJP rule
Synopsis
Mehbooba Mufti claims the PDP-BJP government withdrew 14,000 cases against J&K youth and facilitated a ceasefire — a sharp challenge to Omar Abdullah's new administration. With allegations of social media suppression and a bar on government jobs for militancy-linked families, the PDP is staking out aggressive opposition ground in post-election J&K.
Key Takeaways
Mehbooba Mufti claimed on 4 October that 14,000 cases against J&K youth were withdrawn during the PDP-BJP government (2015–2018) .
She challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah 's National Conference government to take similar pro-youth steps.
Mehbooba alleged an atmosphere of fear in Jammu and Kashmir , with youth reportedly unable to freely express views on social media.
She flagged a policy barring government jobs for youth whose family members were involved in militancy, calling it unjust.
She also called for opening travel through Ladakh to China and urged all political parties to collectively address youth concerns.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday, 4 October claimed that approximately 14,000 cases registered against youth were withdrawn during the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking at an event in Srinagar, she challenged the current administration to demonstrate a comparable commitment to the younger generation.
Attack on the Omar Abdullah Government
Mehbooba directly targeted the National Conference (NC)-led administration under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, asserting that the NC is incapable of understanding the political vision of her father and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. She questioned whether the present government possessed the will to take similar pro-youth measures as the PDP-BJP alliance had reportedly done.
The PDP chief also alleged that an atmosphere of fear currently pervades Jammu and Kashmir, with young people reportedly being prevented from freely expressing their views on social media. She described the situation as one of 'mental stress and uncertainty' for the region's youth.
PDP-BJP Alliance: The Claims
Mehbooba credited the PDP-BJP government — which held power in J&K from 2015 to 2018 — with facilitating a ceasefire and withdrawing thousands of cases against young people. These claims position the PDP as a champion of youth welfare during a period that was simultaneously marked by significant civil unrest in the Valley.
Notably, the PDP-BJP alliance collapsed in June 2018 when the BJP withdrew support, citing an inability to govern amid prevailing conditions. Critics at the time questioned the alliance's record on restoring normalcy, making Mehbooba's current assertions a contested reading of that period.
Key Concerns Raised
Beyond the political comparison, Mehbooba raised several substantive concerns. She said that youth whose grandfather or father was involved in militancy are barred from government employment in J&K — a policy she called unjust. She also drew an analogy with freedom of movement, arguing: 'If people can travel to China from other states, why cannot we travel to China through Ladakh and let our youth see a new world.'
She urged all political parties in J&K to unite around the concerns of young people and called on the government to review its approach so that youth could 'breathe in new air without fear.'
What This Signals
Mehbooba's remarks come as Jammu and Kashmir — now a Union Territory — continues to navigate its post-abrogation political landscape following the removal of its special status in August 2019. The J&K Assembly elections concluded recently, returning the National Conference to power. Mehbooba's public offensive signals that the PDP intends to position itself as the primary opposition voice on youth and civil liberties issues, even as the party faces reduced electoral support. All eyes will now be on how the Omar Abdullah government responds to these political provocations.
Point of View
And the ceasefire it claimed credit for proved short-lived. The 14,000-cases claim is significant if verified, but it has not been independently corroborated and arrives as a political attack rather than a documented policy record. More substantively, her point about barring government jobs for families with a militancy background — and the restriction on travel through Ladakh — touches on genuine civil-liberties debates that the Omar Abdullah government will be pressed to address. The PDP's reduced electoral footprint means Mehbooba must sharpen her identity as a civil-liberties voice, but her credibility on that front remains complicated by her own tenure's record.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Mehbooba Mufti claim about youth cases in Jammu and Kashmir?
Mehbooba Mufti claimed that around 14,000 cases registered against youth were withdrawn during the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, which held power from 2015 to 2018. She made these remarks at a public event in Srinagar on 4 October.
Why is Mehbooba Mufti criticising the Omar Abdullah government?
Mehbooba challenged the National Conference-led government under Omar Abdullah to take comparable pro-youth steps, alleging it cannot match the PDP's vision. She also accused the current administration of allowing an atmosphere of fear, including restrictions on youth expression on social media.
What other concerns did Mehbooba raise about J&K youth?
She highlighted a policy that reportedly bars government employment for youth whose grandfather or father was involved in militancy, calling it unjust. She also raised the issue of restricted travel through Ladakh to China and called on all parties to collectively address youth mental stress and uncertainty.
When did the PDP-BJP alliance govern Jammu and Kashmir?
The PDP-BJP coalition governed Jammu and Kashmir from 2015 to June 2018, when the BJP withdrew support. The alliance was an unusual partnership between a regional party rooted in the Valley and the national ruling party.
What is the broader political context of Mehbooba's remarks?
Jammu and Kashmir recently held its first Assembly elections since the abrogation of its special status in August 2019, with the National Conference returning to power. Mehbooba's aggressive rhetoric signals the PDP's intent to occupy the opposition space on youth and civil liberties issues in the new legislature.
