Mehbooba, Mirwaiz urge CM to cancel Tantra event in Gurez

Citing past ban in Goa, leaders demand cancellation of September 24–27 retreat by self-styled godman.

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti and Kashmir’s chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Saturday called on chief minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and stop a four-day spiritual event, ‘Tantra in Silence’, to be held in the Gurez Valley from September 24 to 27.

Kashmir’s chief preacher Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged chief minister Omar Abdullah to intervene and stop a four-day event to be held in Gurez Valley from September 24. (File photo)

The retreat, organised under the Shree Rajneesh Foundation and facilitated by self-styled godman Swami Dhyan Sumit, has drawn criticism from Kashmir’s political and religious leadership over concerns that it undermines the region’s cultural and religious values.

Mehbooba Mufti took to X to point out that a similar event by the same organisation was banned by Goa Police last year following outrage over promotional material deemed obscene.

“Gurez is no playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism,” the PDP chief posted, appealing directly to the chief minister, J&K Police, and local religious bodies to take immediate action.

Endorsing her concern, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stated that tourism growth must not come at the expense of local ethos.

“Kashmir is the land of Sufis and saints, where spirituality is experienced, not marketed at a cost,” the Mirwaiz said. “Tourism promotion cannot become an excuse to undermine our religious, cultural, and social values.”