Exclusive: Iltija Mufti on the struggles of politics, identity and youth in Kashmir

Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande sits down with Iltija Mufti, PDP’s candidate from Bijbehara, ahead of the first Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections in 10 years.

In this candid interview, Iltija, the daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, speaks about the personal toll of growing up in a political family. “My mother was very distant growing up,” she says. 

Iltija entered politics in 2023 and is fighting her maiden election. She discusses the irony of being in a mainstream party that’s viewed as neither “Indian enough” by the centre in Delhi nor “Kashmiri enough” by people in the valley.

She shares her experience as a woman in politics and also responds to her mother’s controversial remarks from 2016, besides sharing an important message for the youth of Kashmir.

Watch.

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