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Days after they found common ground in opposing Tantra event, Mehbooba Mufti meets Mirwaiz Umar
Confirmed
In Short: Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met to discuss social issues and the controversial 'Tantra in Silence' event.
Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met on Sunday at Mirwaiz's residence in Srinagar, marking a rare convergence of mainstream and separatist political leaders in the Valley.
Mirwaiz told The Indian Express that the meeting was a 'good interaction' and that they discussed the 'prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir in some detail.
Mufti's visit to Mirwaiz's residence was part of her planned series of meetings with prominent religious leaders, aimed at addressing social issues facing Kashmir.
Mufti has been raising concerns on a range of issues through opinion pieces and informal interactions with young people, and the objective of this meeting was to take up issues at all concerned levels.
The meeting is significant given the history between the two, including Mufti's arrest of Mirwaiz in 2016.
Mirwaiz has been regularly raising social issues and concerns, including drug abuse, in his Friday sermons at Srinagar’s grand mosque.
The meeting comes amid a political and religious controversy over a proposed four-day meditation retreat in Gurez Valley titled 'Tantra in Silence – A Journey Within,' scheduled from September 24 to 27.
Both Mufti and Mirwaiz have called for a ban on the event, citing concerns over its organizers and content.
Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to intervene, saying Gurez was 'no playground for experiments' in the name of spirituality or tourism.
Mirwaiz referred to a similar program in Goa that was cancelled by police due to public outrage over its promotional material.
Mirwaiz stated that Kashmir welcomes guests but does not surrender its values, emphasizing the need for authorities to examine the proposed program and its activities.
What this adds
The meeting between Mufti and Mirwaiz is significant as it marks a rare convergence of mainstream and separatist political leaders in the Valley.
Mufti's call for intervention on the 'Tantra in Silence' event was echoed by Mirwaiz, who also expressed serious concerns about the retreat.
What's confirmed
- Former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq met on Sunday at Mirwaiz's residence in Srinagar, marking a rare convergence of mainstream and separatist political leaders in the Valley.
- Mirwaiz told The Indian Express that the meeting was a 'good interaction' and that they discussed the 'prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir in some detail.
- Mufti's visit to Mirwaiz's residence was part of her planned series of meetings with prominent religious leaders, aimed at addressing social issues facing Kashmir.
- Mufti has been raising concerns on a range of issues through opinion pieces and informal interactions with young people, and the objective of this meeting was to take up issues at all concerned levels.
- The meeting is significant given the history between the two, including Mufti's arrest of Mirwaiz in 2016.
- Mirwaiz has been regularly raising social issues and concerns, including drug abuse, in his Friday sermons at Srinagar’s grand mosque.
- The meeting comes amid a political and religious controversy over a proposed four-day meditation retreat in Gurez Valley titled 'Tantra in Silence – A Journey Within,' scheduled from September 24 to 27.
- Both Mufti and Mirwaiz have called for a ban on the event, citing concerns over its organizers and content.
- Mufti urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to intervene, saying Gurez was 'no playground for experiments' in the name of spirituality or tourism.
- Mirwaiz referred to a similar program in Goa that was cancelled by police due to public outrage over its promotional material.
- Mirwaiz stated that Kashmir welcomes guests but does not surrender its values, emphasizing the need for authorities to examine the proposed program and its activities.
What's still developing
- It is also important as it was during Mufti’s reign in 2016 that Mirwaiz was arrested and shifted to Cheshma Shahi huts that were designated as a sub jail.
- Mirwaiz said while responding to Mufti’s call for intervention.
- “Regarding the social media post circulated through the X handle ‘Tantra in Silence at Gurez’, it is clarified that this office has neither granted any permission nor issued any authorisation for conducting the said event,” the Assistant Director Tourism said in a statement.
- “This office has no information or official communication regarding the proposed event referred to in the said social media post. No application seeking permission for the event has been received or processed by this office,” the Assistant Director Tourism said.
- He said the tourism department has no association with the organisation or conduct of the event mentioned in the social media post.
- “Gurez ‘Tantra (in) Silence’ Retreat unauthorised; no permission has been granted to the said event by District Administration Bandipora. Public/tourists are advised not to rely on or share such unauthorised promotional claims,” the district information and public relations office in Bandipora said on X.
- They pointed out that the Goa government had cancelled an event facilitated by the same organisers last year.
- The Bandipora district administration has also distanced itself from the controversial event.
- “The concern raised by @MehboobaMufti deserves immediate attention!” he said.
- “I also appeal to @MirwaizKashmir and @office_mufti to raise awareness about this issue,” she added.
- Mufti noted that a similar 'Tantra' retreat facilitated by Swami Dhyan Sumit, a self-styled godman promoting a new religion under the Shree Rajneesh Foundation, was cancelled in Goa last year after its promotional material sparked controversy.