Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mehbooba Mufti, criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Police for attaching the Hyderpora residence of the late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. This decision, announced on Thursday, has sparked outrage across the region, especially since the house also served as the headquarters for Geelani’s organization, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
Mufti labelled the move as “unfortunate and inhuman,” highlighting that Geelani’s 80-year-old widow still resides in the house. Speaking to journalists in Anantnag, she remarked, “Today is Gandhi Ji’s day. He once said he saw a ray of light in Kashmir when the whole of Asia was burning. Now the same Kashmir is seen as criminal, its people as criminals, their homes and businesses as criminals.” The PDP leader expressed her deep concern over the treatment of ordinary Kashmiris by the government.
Mufti stated that attaching such homes only serves to deepen alienation among the population. “By attaching Geelani’s house, you are not reducing distances but widening them. You banned JEI schools, you targeted madrasas, now you attach homes. What have you made of Kashmir?” she questioned. Her comments reflect a growing discontent among residents feeling marginalized by governmental policies.
She made a poignant comparison with international conflicts, stating, “Even Israel and Hamas are attempting dialogue, but in Kashmir—where people stood with you in 1947—you are criminalising them. This is very bad.” These remarks underline the plight of Kashmiris, who fear that their rights and voices are increasingly silenced by the state’s actions.
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The police justified the attachment of Geelani’s residence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). On Wednesday, they confirmed that the three-story building located on one kanal and one marla of land, adjacent to Srinagar’s Airport Road, formerly operated as the headquarters for Geelani’s Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. Following the Union Home Ministry’s ban on the organization in 2023 for “fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda,” the house’s confiscation appears to be part of broader government actions.
Responding to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mufti argued that the party was fostering communal discord to distract from its failures in governance. “They have no jobs, no hospitals, no roads. So they divide Hindus and Muslims to seek votes. What should I say about Yogi Ji, Bulldozer Baba? May God give them wisdom,” she proclaimed passionately, connecting local grievances to national political strategies.
The controversy surrounding the property illustrates a larger issue of civil rights in Jammu and Kashmir. As tensions rise, Mehbooba Mufti’s statements resonate with many Kashmiris who feel their voices are stifled amid heavy-handed state measures. Observers believe that without sincere dialogue and engagement, the region’s problems will continue to escalate.
