Member of Parliament from Central Kashmir and senior National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, has strongly criticized what he called “blatant state oppression” and “unacceptable overreach” in the religious affairs of Kashmiri Muslims.

In a series of posts on X, Ruhullah as per Kashmir dot Com condemned the recent restrictions imposed on religious practices, particularly the barring of Shab-e-Barat prayers at Srinagar’s Jama Masjid and the subsequent sealing of the mosque. He termed these actions as “crossing a red line” and a direct attack on religious freedom in Kashmir.

“If that wasn’t enough, there are reports of police seizing literature by Maulana Maududi (RA). Will the state now dictate what Kashmiris read, learn, and believe? This is an unacceptable overreach. If such an order exists, it must be revoked immediately,” he wrote.

Warning of serious consequences, Ruhullah accused the government of “meddling in the faith” of Kashmiris and attempting to “control religious discourse.” He asserted that such actions reflect an atmosphere of “intolerance and coercion,” which he said could deepen alienation among the people.

Recently, the Srinagar Police conducted raids on bookstores in the city, seizing 668 books allegedly linked to a banned organization. (CNI)