Srinagar youth provide brave new voice amid silence, despair: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar youth share their aspirations and challenges in a PDP initiative, inspiring hope amid silence and despair, says Mehbooba Mufti.

People Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday (February 1, 2026) held a conversation with the youth of Srinagar under its initiative, ‘Kath Baath’, to understand their aspirations, concerns and suggestions.

Scores of girls also attended the PDP initiative and highlighted the issues the new generation was facing when it comes to employment and political aspirations. The meeting was held in the old city’s Babademb area.

“In these suffocating times, it felt healing to hear people finally speak their hearts without fear,” former J&K Chief Minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said.

“What touched me most was how the Gen Z girls rose with extraordinary courage and clarity, voicing the pain, hopes, and struggles of our city with a depth that left everyone inspired. Their words were a reminder that even in silence and despair, a brave new voice is finding its way,” Ms. Mufti said. 

The PDP has conducted similar programmes with youths of other districts of J&K. According to the PDP, the initiative was launched after the involvement of young doctors from Kashmir was found in the Red Fort blast. “The aim of the initiative is to understand why our educated youth were drifting away and taking up violence,” the PDP said.