SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday met Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq at his residence in Srinagar, with the two discussing social concerns, including rising drug abuse among youth, and the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Mirwaiz, the meeting focused on the societal challenges facing Kashmir and the need for a coordinated response involving different stakeholders.
“Mehboobaji visited me today. We had a conversation around the societal concerns and challenges facing us and the need to address them in a concerted manner taking all stakeholders along. We also discussed the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir in some detail. Overall it was a good interaction,” Mirwaiz told PTI.
Drug abuse among young people was one of the key issues discussed during the meeting. The interaction comes amid growing concern among religious and community leaders over substance abuse, suicide and other challenges affecting Kashmir’s youth.
Sources close to Mehbooba said she met the Mirwaiz as part of her ongoing interactions with youth, scholars, women, artists and social and political activists over issues confronting society.
The meeting also comes days after Mehbooba and Mirwaiz expressed concerns over a proposed “Tantra in Silence” retreat in north Kashmir’s Gurez valley. Following the concerns, the administration clarified that no authorisation had been granted for the event.
The latest interaction marks the first meeting between Mehbooba and Mirwaiz in several years and comes against the backdrop of continuing discussions over social issues affecting Kashmir as well as the political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
