Lone khalid cni
Srinagar, (CNI ): PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday met Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, marking their first official meeting since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Speaking after the meeting, Mehbooba said she urged the LG to release Kashmiri prisoners facing no serious charges ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and demanded the return of those lodged in jails outside J&K. “Their families are too poor to travel and fight legal battles. They must be brought back,” she said.

She also raised the issue of Kashmiri Pandits, emphasizing that political empowerment, not mere relief, is key to their return. “I proposed allotting state land in their native districts to those willing to return, and making transfer rules more flexible for Pandit employees,” she said.

The PDP chief opposed the nomination of Pandits to the Assembly, advocating instead for electoral reservations. “Let them contest and engage with local voters for real integration. Nominations won’t help,” she added.

On the Amarnath Yatra, Mehbooba said Kashmiris want a peaceful pilgrimage and are ready to support it wholeheartedly.

The meeting is being seen as a rare political outreach, coming amid Mehbooba’s continued criticism of post-Article 370 policies in the region. (CNI)