TEHELKA WEB DESK
Srinagar, July 29: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday sought to defuse a controversy triggered by her remarks at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, saying she never intended to justify the use of force against Kashmiris. But even as she expressed regret over the episode, the ruling National Conference (NC) questioned whether she had actually apologised, turning the debate into one over both substance and semantics.
The controversy arose from Mehbooba’s July 23 visit to Jantar Mantar, where she joined students from Jammu and Kashmir protesting alleged examination irregularities. During her interaction with the media, her remarks were widely interpreted as suggesting that the use of force in Kashmir was linked to the presence of militancy, prompting criticism from political parties and sections of civil society.
Addressing a press conference on the PDP’s 27th foundation day, Mehbooba acknowledged that her comments had been misunderstood but stopped short of accepting the interpretation attributed to them.
“If my remarks have hurt the sentiments of the people, I sincerely apologise,” she said.
She maintained that while speaking to several people simultaneously, her words had “slipped out” and failed to convey what she had intended. According to Mehbooba, she meant to say that security forces often use militancy as a “bahana” (excuse) for employing force in Kashmir.
Importantly, she also rejected claims made by some within her party that the widely circulated video had been manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence. “If my incomplete statement caused pain to my people, who have always considered me one of their own and placed their trust in me, I apologise wholeheartedly,” she said.
She also clarified that she had attended the protest at the invitation of students from Jammu and Kashmir studying outside the Union Territory. “I did not go there on my own. The students invited me because they felt I could raise their voice. I wanted to highlight that what is happening elsewhere in the country today is similar to what Kashmir has experienced for years,” she said.
Mehbooba accused the National Conference of exploiting the controversy for political gain. “Whenever we raise issues concerning the people, not only those in Delhi, political parties in J&K feel threatened. Attempts are made to tarnish my credibility,” she said. Rejecting the criticism directed at her, she added:
“They are presenting it as if I signed the death warrants of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat or called for firing at Kashmiris. That is completely untrue.”
A controversy over words—and over accountability: While Mehbooba’s statement was widely interpreted as an attempt to close the controversy, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah argued that her remarks did not amount to an unqualified apology. Speaking to reporters, Abdullah drew a distinction between expressing regret and apologising.
“Did she actually use the word ‘maafi’ (apology)?” he asked.
When journalists pointed out that she had expressed ‘mazarat’ (regret), Abdullah replied:
“There is a difference between ‘mazarat’ (regret) and ‘maafi’ (apology). You are all intelligent people—you know the difference. Saying ‘I express regret’ and saying ‘I apologise’ are worlds apart.”
He questioned the conditional nature of her statement.
“Perhaps she said, ‘If anyone was hurt by what I said.’ When you use the word ‘if’, it means you are not really apologising.”
Abdullah also widened the controversy by targeting PDP leaders who had initially claimed the viral video was AI-generated.
“And what about those who tried to suppress this issue for five days? Those who spread lies?” he said.
Referring to a PDP legislator, he added:
“One of their MLAs kept claiming for five days that the video was AI-generated. Today, Mehbooba herself has clarified there was no AI and that she had made the remarks herself.”
He then questioned the MLA’s credibility.
“So what about him? He is a responsible MLA. Should he continue as an MLA? His own party president has exposed his lie.”
Abdullah concluded by saying:
“If the PDP leaders only believe in expressing regret and not apologising, then at least he should express regret.”
