Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, October 12, 2025—Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti has launched a hard-hitting critique against the BJP-led central government, accusing it of “internal hypocrisy” for simultaneously “embracing” the Taliban-ruled government in Afghanistan while allegedly “systematically marginalizing” India’s own Muslim population.
In a detailed social media post, Mufti highlighted the contradiction between the BJP’s domestic narrative and its foreign policy:
• Domestic Allegations: Mufti charged that the BJP has “repeatedly targeted its own Muslim population propagating narratives that demonize them” in the name of issues like ‘Love Jihad,’ ‘Land Jihad,’ ‘Vote Jihad,’ and ‘Cow Jihad.’
• Foreign Policy Stance: She contrasted this with India’s decision to “embrace Taliban the harbinger of jihad,” noting that New Delhi is extending aid to rebuild Afghanistan, including offering educational scholarships to Afghan students.
• Specific Internal Policy Criticism: Mufti cited the central government’s alleged “withdrawal of scholarships for Muslim students and closing Madrasas” as a “stark reminder of this internal hypocrisy.” The reference to “withdrawal of scholarships” likely refers to the central government’s decision in late 2022 to discontinue the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) for minority students and the pre-matric scholarship for students of classes 1 to 8, moves which were widely criticized by minority groups and opposition parties as marginalizing the community.
Political Context: Mufti’s pointed criticism comes from a unique political background. She herself served as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from April 2016 to June 2018, heading a controversial coalition government with the BJP. The alliance was founded on the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ designed to bridge the ideological gap between the PDP’s regional focus on Kashmiriyat and the BJP’s nationalistic agenda. Furthermore, her reference to the Taliban as the “harbinger of jihad” is significant, given the group’s global image. The Taliban, which seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and maintains the status of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under US sanctions, widely recognized internationally for its history of human rights abuses and the rigid enforcement of Sharia law. Mufti’s statement thus uses the backdrop of a globally recognized extremist group to underscore her charge of political inconsistency against the ruling party.
Heightening the Contradiction: The controversy surrounding India’s engagement with the Taliban was further amplified by a public incident during the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi. Muttaqi’s initial press conference at the Afghan embassy on Friday was widely condemned after female journalists were reportedly barred from attending, leading to photographs that showed a men-only press briefing. The exclusion was criticized by the Editors Guild of India, opposition leaders, and women journalists as a blatant import of the Taliban’s discriminatory gender policy onto Indian soil. While the Ministry of External Affairs clarified it had no role in the presser’s guest list, the incident served as a stark, real-time example of the human rights violations and restrictions against women that define the current regime in Afghanistan, which India is actively seeking to engage.
Mufti concluded her post by asserting that while international relations are vital, the stability of a nation rests on “fostering trust, respect and equality within its own borders particularly with its minority community.” The final line, “Hope Bulldozer Baba is listening!,” appears to be a direct taunt aimed at a prominent BJP leader known for using bulldozers in anti-encroachment drives, often seen as a controversial symbol by critics.
