Valley gets new train, Mehbooba Mufti hops on with students

She went from one compartment to another, interacting with students. Flanked by students who sang ‘Hum hongey kaamyaab ek din’, she said: “We have many good things in Kashmir, but they seldom get reported. There is a lot of misconception. People here are peace loving. Here, a woman tourist can move about safely. We have IAS toppers and bright girl students. Unfortunately, only stone pelting or waving of some flags are discussed.”

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The J&K CM is set to contest bypolls from the Anantnag constituency, which was earlier represented in the assembly by her father and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Train service started in the Valley in 2008, but this was the first time Mehbooba took a rail trip in the Valley. “I really enjoyed it,’’ she told The Indian Express, adding that the trip from Anantnag to Baramulla gave her an opportunity to interact with students.

“Why only me, the students, too enjoyed the journey.’’ She added that the train will help students and government employees. While other trains running between Banihal and Baramulla stop at 17 stations, the new train will halt at only seven.

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Before boarding the train, Mehbooba addressed a gathering, a majority of whom were PDP workers. This was her first public address after taking over as CM. “The original plan was to flag off the train in January. But, the almighty had other plans,” she said, referring to Mufti’s death.