Mehbooba Mufti (born 1959)

Mehbooba Mufti is a prominent Indian politician and the former Chief Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. She was born on May 22, 1959, in the city of Bijbehara in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir. Mehbooba Mufti is the daughter of the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who was also a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

Early Life and Education

Mehbooba Mufti completed her early education in Kashmir and later moved to Delhi to pursue higher studies. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi and went on to earn a Master's degree in Arabic from the University of Kashmir.

Political Career

Mehbooba Mufti began her political career in 1996 when she joined the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) that was founded by her father. She was appointed as the party's Vice President and played a key role in the party's growth in the state. In 1998, she contested and won her first election to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from the Bijbehara constituency.

Over the years, Mehbooba Mufti rose through the ranks of the PDP and was appointed as the President of the party in 2016, following the death of her father. She became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in April 2016 after her party formed a coalition government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her tenure as Chief Minister, however, was marred by violence and unrest in the state following the killing of the Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani, in July 2016.

During her tenure as Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti worked towards building bridges between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India. She advocated for a dialogue with separatist groups in the state and called for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. She also worked towards improving the state's infrastructure and tourism industry.

Controversies

Mehbooba Mufti has been embroiled in several controversies over the years. In 2016, she faced criticism for her handling of the unrest in the state following the killing of Burhan Wani. She was accused of being too lenient towards the protestors and of failing to control the violence in the state.

In 2018, she faced criticism for her government's handling of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in the state's Kathua district. She was accused of trying to shield the accused, who were Hindus, and of playing politics with the case.

In August 2019, following the revocation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti was among several political leaders in the state who were placed under detention by the Indian government.

Personal Life

Mehbooba Mufti is married to businessman Javed Iqbal and has two daughters, Iltija and Irtiqa.

Conclusion

Mehbooba Mufti is a prominent political figure in Jammu and Kashmir and has been a vocal advocate for a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. While her tenure as Chief Minister was marked by controversies and unrest in the state, she remains a key figure in the state's political landscape.