Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to clarify claims regarding an alleged plan to alter the demographic composition of the Kashmir Valley.
Her remarks followed statements made by Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo, a leader associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who reportedly told a national daily that the Centre was working toward changing Kashmir’s demography by settling lakhs of Hindus from outside the region.
Reacting strongly to the statement, Mufti questioned the intent behind the proposal of establishing multiple townships in the Valley. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she stated that while the creation of new townships may appear progressive on the surface, concerns arise when BJP leaders link the move to demographic adjustments.
“Forty townships in Kashmir to decongest cities? Sounds progressive until BJP voices call it a demography plan for Hindu settlement. Coincidence or deliberate state engineering? The Jammu and Kashmir government must clarify before it is too late,” Mufti wrote.
She emphasized that transparency from the government is essential to address public apprehensions and prevent unrest in the sensitive region.
The remarks have triggered political debate, with opposition leaders demanding an official explanation regarding the purpose and structure of the proposed townships. As of now, the government has not issued a formal response to the allegations.
