03/06/2026
Muzaffar Shah Questions Mehboob's 'All-Party' Initiative, Asks: Where Are Gujjars, Paharis, MMU and Other Stakeholders?
Slams PDP, NC Over Failure to Address Reservation, Unemployment and Statehood
Srinagar, June 03: Senior Vice President of the Awami National Conference (ANC), Muzaffar Shah, on Wednesday questioned former Chief Minister Mehbooba M***i's proposed political unity initiative, arguing that any meaningful all-party engagement must include all stakeholders of Jammu and Kashmir rather than a select group of political actors.
Addressing a press conference, Shah was accompanied by Shuja Zafar of the Jammu Muslim Front, along with ANC Vice Presidents Abdul Lateef Khan and Nazir Pandit. During the interaction, he raised concerns over the structure and intent of the proposed outreach, which has recently sparked a public exchange between former Chief Minister Mehbooba M***i and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Shah noted that while the proposed initiative seeks to engage political parties, religious organizations and even the BJP, several crucial stakeholders have been left out.
He pointed out that institutions such as the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other prominent religious figures, along with political leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Apni Party, Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari representatives, Christian communities, Shia organizations from Jammu, the Bar Association, Akali groups and the Rajput Sabha, have not been adequately acknowledged in the proposed framework.
Recalling the formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Shah said the concept of political unity was not new and had already been pursued through a broader all-party platform that sought to bring together diverse political and social groups. He questioned why many of those stakeholders now appear absent from the current proposal and warned that any exercise that excludes key voices cannot truly represent the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Criticizing the public exchanges between Mehbooba M***i and Omar Abdullah, Shah said the initiative was being weakened before it had even begun. He argued that public letters, social media posts and political taunts were undermining the credibility of a process that was supposedly intended to foster unity, warning that such conduct could become the final blow to an already fragile political consensus.
The ANC leader also questioned the political establishment's record on major public issues, stating that reservation concerns, unemployment and the plight of daily wagers remain unresolved. He asked why no all-party meetings had been convened to address these pressing matters and referred to the recent demolition of 35 houses in Sidhra, Jammu, while also raising concerns regarding the implementation of court orders related to land disputes in the Marble Market area.
Shah maintained that any serious political initiative must focus on Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional, legal and administrative challenges, including Article 370, Article 35A and the restoration of Statehood. He said several stakeholders, including petitioners before the Supreme Court, the Bar Association and political groups such as the CPM, continue to pursue the constitutional struggle, while many elected representatives have failed to demonstrate the same commitment.
Expressing disappointment over the lack of progress on Statehood, Shah said Jammu and Kashmir's 52 MLAs have been unable to secure any tangible outcome despite repeatedly raising the issue over the past two years. He argued that a determined and united political leadership could have exerted far greater pressure to advance the cause.
Holding mainstream political parties responsible for weakening the PAGD and the larger unity movement, Shah said leaders who once championed collective action had themselves contributed to the fragmentation of that platform. He warned that continued public infighting and political point-scoring would only further damage public confidence.
Announcing the ANC's future plans, Shah said the party would soon present a comprehensive proposal aimed at bringing together every stakeholder in Jammu and Kashmir, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Kashmiri Pandits and all sections of society. He also criticized the political leadership for failing to make meaningful progress on the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits over the past two years.
Stressing the need for seriousness and inclusivity, Shah said Jammu and Kashmir cannot afford another flawed political exercise and urged all stakeholders to focus on safeguarding the region's constitutional, political and social interests through genuine and broad-based unity.
