SRINAGAR: Mehbooba Mufti on Monday called for joint efforts by the government and opposition to revive the strength and dignity of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, as she marked her return to the House after more than seven years.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president observed the proceedings from the Speaker’s Gallery during the Question Hour, in her first appearance since the fall of her coalition government in 2018.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Mufti said the institution had lost its stature over time and required collective political will for its restoration. “The Assembly is a very important institution. However, its value and authority have, in one way or another, been diminished since 2019,” she said.
She expressed confidence that coordinated efforts by both the ruling dispensation and opposition parties could help rebuild the institution. “Through collective efforts of both the government and the opposition, the lost strength of the JK Assembly can be restored,” she said, adding that the PDP would play its role in the process.
Mufti said her party had introduced several private members’ bills in the House aimed at addressing governance and public welfare issues. These include proposals related to land ownership rights for long-term occupants, creation of new administrative divisions, and measures concerning daily wage workers.
Highlighting the condition of daily wagers, she said their economic situation remained precarious and called for the issue to be addressed on humanitarian grounds. She also urged the government to act on its commitments related to employment, reservation, and regularisation.
During the session, all four PDP MLAs were present in the House. One of them, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, appreciated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for what he described as a “satisfactory and detailed” response to a question related to tourism in the Union Territory.
Mufti said several legislative measures could be pursued within the existing Union Territory framework and did not necessarily require restoration of statehood.
Her brief presence in the Assembly drew attention amid ongoing proceedings, particularly as private members’ bills from PDP legislators were expected to be taken up for discussion.
Officials and political observers said the visit assumes significance in the current legislative context, with parties increasingly using the Assembly platform to raise key public issues.
Mufti also made remarks on international developments, referring to the ongoing West Asia situation, while reiterating that her focus remains on strengthening democratic institutions and addressing public concerns within Jammu and Kashmir.
