SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday apologised if her recent remarks at Jantar Mantar had hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying a word had unintentionally slipped during her interaction with the media, leading to a misunderstanding.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mehbooba said the viral video of her remarks was genuine and denied ever claiming that it was fake or generated using artificial intelligence. She maintained that her statement had been misconstrued because an incomplete expression was made in haste while she was responding to several journalists.
“If my words have hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I sincerely apologise. The people here consider me their own, and if they have been pained because of my remarks, I express my regret,” she said.
The PDP chief said she had devoted nearly three decades of her life to serving the people of Jammu and Kashmir and had never pursued politics for personal gain. She said the trust and affection of the people remained her greatest achievement.
Mehbooba alleged that her political opponents were attempting to derive political advantage from the controversy by presenting her remarks out of context to undermine her credibility.
She also said that despite political and personal challenges, including actions taken against members of her family after 2019, she had continued to raise issues concerning the rights and dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The controversy stems from remarks made by Mehbooba at Jantar Mantar while opposing the use of police force against students in Delhi. In the viral video, she said the students were unarmed before referring to the situation in Kashmir, stating: “Kashmir mein toh humne dekha hai… Magar wahan militancy hai, uska ek banta hai ki bhai yahan se militant hai, yahan se security forces hai” (“We have seen this in Kashmir… But there is militancy there, so it makes sense that there is a militant on one side and security forces on the other.”).
