'BJP Wants To Establish Kaurava Raj, Not Ram Raj, Where Women Have No Respect': Mehbooba Mufti
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has strongly criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over an incident where he allegedly pulled down a Muslim doctor’s veil during an event on December 15. She described the act as 'vile' and an attack on the dignity of Indian women, while her daughter, Iltija Mufti, filed a formal police complaint in Delhi seeking legal action against Kumar.
Mufti also accused the BJP of promoting a 'Kaurava Raj'—a reference to the Mahabharata’s oppressive rulers—where women face disrespect, comparing their actions to the humiliation of Draupadi in the ancient epic.
The controversy began when a video surfaced showing Nitish Kumar pulling the headscarf of a woman doctor at a public event. Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident as an assault on the 'autonomy, identity, and dignity of every Indian woman.' She also criticised former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his delayed response to the issue.
On December 18–19, Iltija Mufti, Mehbooba’s daughter, filed a police complaint in Delhi, demanding an FIR against Kumar. She identified herself as the complainant in the hijab-related incident, escalating the legal pressure on the Bihar CM. Beyond this case, Mehbooba Mufti raised concerns about press freedom in Kashmir. She condemned the seizure of a local journalist’s phone in Srinagar, claiming that independent journalism in the region is being stifled. Only those who align with the BJP’s narrative, she argued, are allowed to operate freely. Additionally, she opposed the government’s plan to allot agricultural land in Puchal village, Pulwama, to the Border Security Force (BSF). She argued that such a move would deprive local farmers of their livelihoods and was fundamentally unjust.
The incident involving Nitish Kumar has sparked legal action, with Iltija Mufti’s complaint pushing for an FIR. Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti’s broader criticisms target the BJP’s policies in Kashmir, from media restrictions to land allocation disputes. The developments highlight ongoing tensions over women’s rights, regional autonomy, and press freedom in the region.
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