Mehbooba Mufti accuses BJP of India embracing Taliban, father of jihad

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday criticised the BJP government accusing it of targeting Muslims in India while building relations with the Taliban in AfghanistanMufti alleged that the BJP is targeting Muslims in India under the guise of Love Jihad Land Jihad Vote Jihad and Cow Jihad promoting divisive slogans that defame themShe highlighted the contradiction in Indias relations with the Taliban stating that while the country is assisting in rebuilding Afghanistan including educational scholarships Indian Muslims are being deprived of basic rights and opportunitiesUnder the names of Love Jihad Land Jihad Vote Jihad and Cow Jihad the BJP is targeting its own Muslim population and promoting slogans that defame them Meanwhile Indiawhich is the mother of democracyis embracing the Taliban the father of jihad under the BJP Mehbooba Mufti wrote on XIn the name of lsquoLove Jihadrsquo lsquoLand Jihadrsquo lsquoVote Jihadrsquo and lsquoCow Jihad the BJP has repeatedly targeted its own Muslim population propagating narratives that demonize them At the same time India the mother of democracy under BJP has decided to embrace Taliban the harbinger ofhellip pictwittercomgebqtYTYS5mdash Mehbooba Mufti MehboobaMufti October 12 2025Mufti criticised the governments decision to withdraw scholarships for Muslim students while providing opportunities for Afghan students calling it a double standardIt has decided to provide all kinds of assistance to rebuild Afghanistan including educational scholarships for Afghan students While maintaining good relations with Afghanistan may be strategically important it creates a clear contradiction Indias own Muslim population who have contributed to the countrys identity and progress are being deprived of basic rights and opportunities Withdrawing scholarships for Muslim students highlights this internal double standard added MuftiThe PDP chief also took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday visited Darul Uloom Deoband in UPs SaharanpurBuilding international relations is necessary but the foundation of a stable and harmonious nation should be based on trust respect and equality within its own country especially with its Muslim population I hope Bulldozer Baba is listening she addedThe Talibans connection to Deobandi Islam is rooted in the movements ideology and history Founded in 1866 in Deoband Uttar Pradesh India the Deobandi movement is a Sunni Islamic revivalist effort that emphasises a return to core Islamic principles and rejects Western influences It focuses on Islamic studies jurisprudence and spiritual purificationThe Taliban emerged in the 1990s heavily influenced by Deobandi thought particularly through Pakistani madrasas like Darul Uloom Haqqania which is affiliated with Deoband Many Taliban leaders including Mullah Omar studied in these institutionsBoth Deobandis and Taliban believe in implementing Islamic law in its entirety They oppose Western cultural and intellectual influences seeing them as a threat to Islamic values Deobandi institutions emphasise traditional Islamic learning which has shaped the Talibans worldviewThe Talibans visit to Darul Uloom Deoband in India signifies a strategic move to assert their ideological authenticity and independence from Pakistans Deobandi networksMuttaqui is on a weeklong visit to India beginning from October 9 till October 16 This is the first highlevel delegation from Kabul to India since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021With inputs from ANI