Pandits lodge complaint against PDP’s Iltija over Hindutva remark

The controversy over “Hindutva” remarks made by PDP leader Iltija Mufti, daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has flared further as a Kashmiri Pandit organisation has lodged a police complaint against her.

Youth 4 Panun Kashmir, an organisation of migrant Kashmiri Pandits, lodged a complaint against Iltija Mufti for making “derogatory and inflammatory remarks against Lord Rama and Hinduism”.

In a press statement, the president of the organisation, Vithal Chowdhary, informed that the complaint has been lodged with the Cyber Crime Cell, Delhi, alleging that the statement of Mufti is deeply offensive, aimed at inciting communal discord and deliberately insults Lord Rama, the Hindu religion and its followers. The complaint cites Sections 302, 325 and 324 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita-2023 and Section 67 of the IT Act.

On December 7, Iltija wrote on X, “Ram the deity must hang his head in shame & watch helplessly as minor Muslim boys are whacked with chappals only because they refuse to chant his name. Hindutva is a disease thats afflicted millions of Indians & sullied a Gods name”.

She later stated, “Much outrage over my tweet & also whataboutery about Islam. The senseless violence that’s been carried out in the name of Islam is what caused Islamophobia in the first place. Today Hinduism (not Hindutva) also finds itself in a similar situation where it’s being used & abused to lynch & persecute minorities. Let’s call spade a spade”.

Her remarks created an uproar among the right wing organisations, including BJP, VHP and others who demanded strict action against the PDP leader, who lost her debut Assembly election recently.

Meanwhile, the BJP in Jammu has also sharpened its attack against Iltija Mufti and the PDP stating that it was the desperation of the party that has already been rejected by the people of Kashmir. Senior party leader Pawan Sharma said Mufti’s recent “inflammatory remarks against Hindutva is an act of desperation”.

“She is championing the cause of ‘break India’ forces and aligning with the Tukde Tukde gang. By abusing Hindus, the world’s most tolerant community, she is playing with fire and pushing a dangerous agenda,” Sharma said.

Sharma claimed that Iltija Mufti’s statements were motivated by malice, seeking to divert media attention away from the violent attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh.