Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has triggered a fresh political debate after saying she would not say Vande Mataram. She said her stand reflects growing restrictions on free expression in the Union Territory.
Her remarks came during an ongoing controversy linked to a preliminary enquiry ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The enquiry was launched after images of Kashmiri cricketer Furqan Ul Haq wearing a helmet with the Palestine flag appeared on social media.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Reacting strongly, Iltija Mufti questioned whether people in Jammu and Kashmir still enjoy the right to speak freely. “We are summoned on everything. Do we not have the freedom to speak openly?” she asked.
Iltija defended expressions of solidarity with Palestine, saying such acts should not be treated as a crime. She described the official response as excessive and driven more by politics than law.
Drawing comparisons with protests in Europe and the United States, she said people across the world openly demonstrate against the killings in Gaza without facing similar action. She argued that peaceful expressions of opinion are being unfairly targeted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Iltija Mufti further alleged that residents are being picked up for minor reasons, VPN services are being restricted, and many actions are being justified “under the garb of law”. According to her, these developments show a steady erosion of civil liberties, claiming that there is now “virtually no rule of law” left in the region.
The remarks have added to an already sensitive debate around freedom of expression, political dissent, and the limits of state action in Jammu and Kashmir.
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