Srinagar, Oct 19: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the felling of centuries-old Chinar trees, saying saplings could not compensate for the loss of Kashmir’s natural and cultural heritage.
In a post on X, Mufti said a Chinar takes generations to attain its full stature and argued that centuries of heritage could not be replaced through plantation drives.
“The irony is staggering,” she said, alleging that Omar Abdullah, while serving as Commerce Minister in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, had been associated with a ban on Kashmiri Toosh shawls.
Mufti drew a parallel between the alleged impact on Kashmir’s traditional shawl heritage and the present concerns over Chinar trees, describing the latter as part of the region’s living heritage.
“First a blow to Kashmir’s woven heritage, now a threat to its living heritage,” she said, adding that Kashmir’s traditions and heritage should not be dismantled.
The comments follow Omar Abdullah’s remarks during his visit to Ganderbal on October 15, when he said Chinar trees were obstructing road widening along the Beehama–Kheer Bhawani stretch and suggested that some trees might have to be removed, with eight to ten Chinars planted at alternative locations.
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