Omar Abdullah says Mehbooba's remarks on violence against Kashmiris 'irresponsible', demands apology
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (July 27, 2026) said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti should have stayed home instead of going to
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday (July 27, 2026) said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti should have stayed home instead of going to Jantar Mantar and justifying the use of force against Kashmiris, and that she should apologise for her remarks. "Irresponsible" statements made by people who have been in a position of power can act as a deterrent for ordinary people to fight for their rights, Abdullah told reporters outside his private office. Mehbooba visited Jantar Mantar on July 23 to extend support to the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest against alleged examination irregularities. While opposing police action against student protesters in Delhi, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief appeared to defend the use of pellet guns in the valley in the past, saying that it was different in Kashmir as the security forces were fighting militancy. The comments drew backlash from rival political parties, including Abdullah's Conference (NC). The PDP, however, accused the ruling NC of using artificial intelligence to twist Ms. Mehbooba's statement at Jantar Mantar. Abdullah said, "When a former chief minister says use of force is justified in Kashmir for fighting militancy, who will come out to fight for their rights? It would have been better if she had not gone to Jantar Mantar." "When we [politicians] support oppression and use of force by the Centre, who will support us if people want to protest for the restoration of statehood?
They will not come out because Ms. Mehbooba ji has said 'yeh to banta hai [this is acceptable’'," he added. The CM said Ms. Mehbooba did not visit Jantar Mantar for the NC's protest to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, but went there for the students' protest. "She did not go to Jantar Mantar for Jammu and Kashmir. But she went there and justified the misuse of power and force on the pretext of fighting militancy. "How does she justify it? Should the children not get justice because there is militancy? Should passports be stopped because there is militancy? Should laws not be implemented because there is militancy? I could not understand how it is justified," Mr. Abdullah said. He said the PDP leader has an old habit of singing different tunes in Delhi and back home. "For a second, let us say that she was trying to please some people there. She has not forgotten the old habit of speaking different languages at different places," he added. Abdullah said Ms. Mehbooba should apologise for her statement. "She would not lose stature if she had called you [media] to her office and said she was carried away by emotions and she is sorry for it.
The BriefWire