THE KASHMIR NOTEBOOK-Episode 1 | Gowhar Geelani in conversation with Mehbooba Mufti

Описание: Introducing The Kashmir Notebook with Gowhar Geelani—a Frontline show that examines the many layers of Kashmir, from its rich history and politics to everyday life and culture. The show explores everything from conflict to climate, literature to architecture, Sufism to street sentiment, the region’s food and fashion, and most importantly, the voices and stories of the people who call Kashmir home.
Gowhar Geelani is a senior journalist, author, and political analyst who has worked with several media houses and has covered areas such as human rights, gender, sports, conflict, culture, literature, etc.
In the first episode, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti talks about her party’s controversial alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015 and its aftermath. From the “unholy alliance” to the fallout of Article 370's revocation, Mufti offers a critique of New Delhi’s Kashmir policy, the “Naya Kashmir” narrative, and the political choices made by her contemporaries.
Mufti defends some of her past decisions while criticising the BJP's “iron-fist” approach and the National Conference’s alleged complicity in normalising the changes that occurred after 2019. She likens today’s Kashmir to an "open air prison" and discusses how power and mandate are being misused by current leaders.

Context:
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), led by the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, stunned voters by aligning with the ideologically opposite BJP in 2015. After his death, Mehbooba Mufti continued the alliance until 2018, calling it a “partnership in crime”. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, she has emerged as a critic of the BJP’s Kashmir policy. In this interview, she addresses everything from her party’s record in power to accusations of enabling repression.

Highlights:
1) Why the PDP-BJP alliance was seen as “political suicide”
2) Mehbooba Mufti on life in Kashmir after August 5, 2019
3) Her attack on the National Conference and Omar Abdullah
4) Her critique of the BJP’s ‘Naya Kashmir’
5) Responses to criticism over PDP’s governance
6) Reflections on her own controversial statements and political evolution

Perfect for:
1) Viewers interested in Indian politics and Kashmir
2) Those seeking insight into the PDP-BJP alliance and its legacy
3) Audiences following Article 370 and its aftermath
4) People curious about Mehbooba Mufti’s evolving political stance
5) Those interested in political interviews

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Credits:
Interview by Gowhar Geelani
Camera by Emm Xi
Editing by Razal Pareed
Team Frontline: Kavya Pradeep and Saatvika Radhakrishna