Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday directed her party workers to wholeheartedly support the upcoming Amarnath Yatra and lend all help to the pilgrims, calling it a golden opportunity to remind the country of Kashmiriyat in times of hate.

The PDP president summoned party workers from different corners of the Valley to sensitise them to the need to renew their faith in Kashmiriyat, which encompasses the Valley’s syncretic culture.

“We had invited office-bearers of the party from Anantnag district in south Kashmir and Ganderbal to direct our workers and activists to wholeheartedly support the upcoming Amarnath Yatra,” Mehbooba told reporters after the party meeting.

“This yatra is a golden chance for us to remind the whole country once again of Kashmiriyat. I appeal to all my party workers to make this yatra successful, welcome the yatris and help them in every way.”

Mehbooba said the pilgrims were our guests and there should be no deficiency in taking care of them or helping them.

The two-month-long yatra is starting from June 30. The authorities are deploying tens of thousands of security personnel on the twin Pahalgam and Baltal routes — which pass through Anantnag and Ganderbal — to ensure a safe pilgrimage.

Kashmiri politicians have in the past welcomed pilgrims but rarely did they organise meetings of party workers to direct them to do the needful for the yatris.