Iltija Mufti concerned over proposed railway line in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 4: Amid proposed railway line row in south Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday expressed concern, highlighting the adverse impact the project could leave on local livelihoods and the environment.
Notably, her remarks come amidst protests in Bijbehara, where farmers have vocally opposed the railway project, fearing the loss of their farmland and livelihoods.
She said that the development should not come at the cost of people’s livelihoods or environmental sustainability.
Voicing concern, Iltija said that the area has fertile land and orchards and that the railway project was targeting their primary source of income, which depends on agriculture. “If you want to construct a railway, use non-agricultural lands,” she said.
Mufti also criticized the lack of ecological planning, citing the fragile environmental balance of the Kashmir valley. She drew parallels with urbanization disasters in Uttarakhand.
“We are not against development. Development at the cost of the environment is not progress,” they stated.
About unemployment in the region, Mufti expressed concern over the growing joblessness, stating that the unemployment rate stands at a staggering 38%.
She also condemned the termination of government employees on what she described as “flimsy charges.”
Speaking over the issue of recent claims of temples beneath mosques, she said such narratives were attempts to polarize communities for political gain. “This is not the progressive, secular India envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi. Instead, it seems to echo the ideology of Nathuram Godse,” she said.
Regarding the recent increase in militant attacks, she said despite claims of eradicating militancy, the rise in violence contradicts those assertions, stating that is leading to concerns over the safety of both civilians and security forces.
She said that it were the efforts of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which brought forth a resolution on the matter despite having only three MLAs, while lamenting the lack of similar action from larger parties.