People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has reached out to three non-BJP chief ministers, urging them to remain steadfast in their defence of the Indian Constitution and democratic values amid what she described as an increasingly majoritarian political atmosphere.
In letters sent on Saturday to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mufti called upon regional leaders to act as bulwarks against what she termed the “systematic targeting” of the Constitution and the secular fabric of the country.
Expressing concern over the rising tide of polarisation, Mufti alleged that the last decade had seen a dangerous erosion of India’s founding values. “While the majority of citizens continue to reject this divisive agenda, those who propagate hatred and exclusion now occupy positions of power. They are systematically targeting our Constitution, democratic institutions, and the secular fabric of our nation,” she wrote.
She further said that minorities, especially Muslims, have borne the brunt of this shift. “The latest example being the arbitrary enforcement of new Waqf laws that undermine our religious freedoms,” Mufti added.
In her letters, she referenced the 2019 abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir as part of a larger pattern of what she believes is state-led marginalisation. “These developments are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of systemic erosion of rights, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the dismemberment of Jammu & Kashmir,” she noted.
Acknowledging the stand taken by Stalin, Banerjee, and Siddaramaiah, Mufti commended their continued resistance to such actions. “In these dark and difficult times, your clarity, courage, and commitment to justice have been a rare beacon of hope. Alongside a few principled voices, you have upheld the inclusive and democratic idea of India,” she said.
Mufti concluded by expressing gratitude on behalf of “countless people who feel voiceless and marginalised today,” and voiced hope that continued unity among like-minded leaders could help “reclaim our constitutional values and safeguard our shared future.”
The PDP chief has remained one of the most vocal critics of the Narendra Modi-led government since her party’s alliance with the BJP collapsed in 2018. Her current outreach comes at a politically sensitive moment ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
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