SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had expressed regret over her controversial remarks on Kashmir but stopped short of offering an unconditional apology, while questioning PDP leaders who had earlier claimed the viral video was AI-generated.
Reacting to Mehbooba’s press conference in which she said, *”If my words have hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I sincerely apologise,”* Omar maintained there was a distinction between regret and an apology.
“There is a world of difference between saying ‘I regret’ and saying ‘I apologise’. She said, ‘If my statement caused pain to anyone’. Whenever you insert an ‘if’, it means you are not really apologising,” Omar told reporters.
He also took aim at PDP leaders who had dismissed the controversy by alleging that the viral clip was generated using artificial intelligence.
“For five days they tried to suppress this by calling it AI. Today, Mehbooba Ji herself clarified there was no AI involved and that she had actually made those remarks,” he said.
Without naming anyone, Omar said a sitting PDP MLA who repeatedly claimed the video was AI-generated had misled the public.
“His own party president has exposed his lies. He should at least express regret for deceiving the people,” he said.
On the anti-paper leak Bill introduced in Parliament, Omar welcomed the move, saying any legislation that improved the examination system would benefit students across the country.
“If student protests lead to a better examination system, that is a positive step. Let Parliament pass the Bill,” he said.
Asked about the National Conference’s campaign for restoration of statehood after its recent protest at Jantar Mantar, Omar said the party would continue its efforts.
“If we had received anything from Delhi, you would already know. This process will continue, and we will inform you about the next steps,” he said.
Responding to questions about the PDP’s proposed August 5 protest seeking restoration of Article 370 alongside statehood, Omar said the party was free to pursue its political programme.
“Who has stopped them? When they had the opportunity, they did not raise these issues in Delhi. If they now realise their mistake and want to rectify it, that is a good thing,” he said.
Mehbooba had earlier apologised if her remarks at Jantar Mantar had hurt the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying an incomplete expression made during a hurried interaction with reporters had led to a misunderstanding. She also clarified that the viral video was authentic and denied ever claiming it was fake or AI-generated.
The controversy arose after Mehbooba, while criticising police action against student protesters in Delhi, referred to the situation in Kashmir and said the use of force there “made some sense” because of militancy. Her remarks drew criticism from several political parties, which accused her of justifying the use of force, including pellet guns, during the 2016 unrest.
