Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday rejected media reports claiming that party president Mehbooba Mufti was heckled or faced protests during her visit to the Kheer Bhawani mela in Ganderbal’s Tulmulla area, saying the incident was misrepresented on social media and by a section of the media.
Speaking to FPK, PDP spokesperson Mohit Bhan said there was no protest against the PDP president during her visit and that the interaction being portrayed was merely an attempt by a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community to speak with her.
“One person wanted to meet Mehbooba Mufti and share his concerns. There was no protest at all. The security personnel and media personnel were moving people around, and he requested that he be allowed to speak to her,” Bhan, who also visited the festival and interacted with devotees along with Mehbooba, said.
The PDP leader said the person later sat with them and discussed issues concerning the Kashmiri Pandit community, including their desire to return to Kashmir and the need for confidence-building measures, assurances and rehabilitation support.
“If there had been any protest, the same person would not have been sitting with us and openly discussing his concerns. The interaction was cordial and constructive,” he added.
The clarification came a day after videos circulated on social media claiming Mehbooba had faced opposition during her visit to the annual mela.
Following the visit, Mehbooba posted on X that the scenes at Kheer Bhawani were “heartwarming beyond words” and reflected the bond between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims.
“The warmth and affection between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims transcended the walls of mistrust and division that some have sought to build for their own agendas,” she wrote.
She also highlighted the role of Kashmiri Pandit doctors serving both inside and outside the Valley, saying their work was helping rebuild trust and strengthen ties between the two communities.
The PDP maintained that the overall atmosphere at the mela was peaceful and that attempts to portray the interaction as a protest were misleading.
