Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has found herself at the centre of a fresh political controversy after her remarks at a protest gathering at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi sparked a sharp backlash from the ruling National Conference (NC), the Apni Party and other political leaders, who accused her of justifying the use of force against civilians in Kashmir.
The controversy erupted after Mehbooba, while drawing a comparison between the police action against student protesters in Delhi and protests witnessed in Kashmir over the years, said the situation in the Valley was different as security forces were fighting terrorism. Her remarks were interpreted by political opponents as a justification for the use of force, including pellet guns, against protesters in Jammu and Kashmir.
The comments quickly snowballed into a political row, with opposition leaders recalling her controversial "milk and toffee" remark made during the 2016 unrest and accusing the former Chief Minister of hypocrisy.
Omar Abdullah Advises Mehbooba to Apologise
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also weighed in on the controversy, advising Mehbooba Mufti to publicly apologise instead of claiming that the viral video of her remarks was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said attempts to justify excesses committed in the name of counter-terrorism undermine democratic values and weaken the rule of law.
"Denying justice to people, withholding passports or justifying misuse of power in the name of terrorism cannot be accepted under any circumstances," he said.
The Chief Minister noted that several journalists from national media organisations were present at Jantar Mantar and multiple videos of the event had been recorded.
"In such a situation, describing the entire episode as AI-generated is not only contrary to the facts but also an insult to the intelligence of the people," Omar said.
He maintained that if the remarks had been made in the heat of the moment, the appropriate course would have been to hold a press conference and issue a clear apology.
"Instead of acknowledging the mistake, the controversy has only deepened by dismissing the video as fabricated," he added.
Omar also observed that Mehbooba Mufti had never publicly expressed regret over several controversial political decisions, including her party's alliance with the BJP in 2015 and the handling of the 2016 unrest.
National Conference Demands Public Apology
The ruling National Conference mounted a sharp attack on the PDP chief, demanding that she apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for her remarks.
In a post on its official X handle, the NC said, "If you are a Kashmiri protesting for your rights, then using force against you is justified. Remarkable."
Party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar alleged that Mehbooba Mufti had attempted to justify the use of force against Kashmiri youth and children during the 2016 unrest.
"I am beyond words. Mehbooba Mufti is shamelessly and recklessly branding every Kashmiri protester as a terrorist. Children, young girls—everyone was treated as a terrorist. Even shame would be ashamed today. Her hypocrisy is uglier than I had imagined," Dar wrote on X.
Echoing similar sentiments, NC leader and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq questioned whether every public protest in Jammu and Kashmir was now being equated with armed militancy.
"Are those protesting against reservation terrorists? Are people demanding basic civic amenities terrorists? Such remarks coming from a former Chief Minister are deeply unfortunate," Sadiq said while demanding that Mehbooba tender an unconditional apology.
Apni Party Recalls 2016 Unrest
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said he was "neither surprised nor shocked" by Mehbooba Mufti's remarks, recalling her tenure as Chief Minister during the 2016 unrest in Kashmir.
"After all, this is the same leader who justified the killing of Kashmiri youth by asking whether they had gone out to buy milk and toffees," Bukhari said, referring to one of her most criticised statements during the unrest that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
He alleged that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had not forgotten the human cost of the government's response during that period.
"It was under her government that pellet guns were used against protesting youth. Hundreds of young boys and girls either lost their eyesight or suffered permanent injuries. Those painful memories cannot be erased by political rhetoric," he said.
PDP Says Remarks Misrepresented
While the PDP did not issue an official statement on the controversy, party leaders informally maintained that Mehbooba Mufti's remarks had been taken out of context and misrepresented.
The controversy has once again revived political debate over the handling of the 2016 unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, with rival parties accusing each other of attempting to rewrite the narrative surrounding one of the Valley's most turbulent periods.
