Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that Mehbooba Mufti, former CM and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should have apologized for her comments on the use of force at Jantar Mantar instead of attributing them to an AI-generated video. Abdullah accused Mufti of trying to please certain groups outside Jammu and Kashmir and ignoring the backlash against her statements. He criticized Mufti for justifying the use of force in the Kashmir Valley during her visit to Jantar Mantar.
Abdullah emphasized that while dealing with militancy is a challenge, it does not justify arbitrary actions against civilians. He highlighted that the presence of militancy does not warrant unjust arrests or the withholding of passports. Abdullah also criticized Mufti for allegedly adopting different stances in Kashmir and New Delhi, accusing her of inconsistency in her statements.
Referring to the video controversy surrounding Mufti’s speech, Abdullah suggested that she should have publicly acknowledged her mistake and offered an apology instead of denying the remarks. He pointed out that Mufti has a history of not expressing regret over contentious political decisions, citing examples like the PDP’s alliance with the BJP in 2015. Abdullah concluded by stating that Mufti’s remarks on the use of force at Jantar Mantar had faced local criticism for suggesting that force should only be used in Kashmir, not elsewhere.
