Mehbooba’s statement on Kashmiris ‘irresponsible’, instead of going to Jantar Mantar, apologize: Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that PDP President Mehbooba Mufti should have stayed at home instead of going to Jantar Mantar. He also asked Mehbooba to apologize for her statements justifying the use of force on Kashmiris. While talking to journalists outside his private office, CM Abdullah said that irresponsible statements of leaders who have been in power can stop common people from raising their voice for their rights. Mehbooba Mufti had gone to Jantar Mantar on July 23 and supported the Cockroach Janata Party’s demonstration against examination irregularities.

While protesting against the police action during the students’ protest in Delhi, the PDP President gave a statement in support of the pellet guns which were earlier used in the Kashmir Valley. He said that the situation in Kashmir was different because the security forces there were dealing with terrorism.
Many opposition parties including Omar Abdullah’s National Conference expressed strong opposition to these statements of Mehbooba Mufti. In response, PDP alleged that the ruling National Conference used AI to misrepresent Mehbooba’s statement given at Jantar Mantar.

‘She did not go to Jantar Mantar for Jammu and Kashmir’

CM Omar Abdullah said that when a former Chief Minister says that the use of force to fight terrorism in Kashmir was right, then how will the common people come forward for their rights? It would have been better if she had not gone to Jantar Mantar. He said, when we support the repression and use of force by the Centre, then who will support us if people want to protest for restoration of statehood? They will not come out, because Mehbooba has said that this is possible.

The Chief Minister said that Mehbooba had not gone to Jantar Mantar to join the NC protest demanding restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, but she had gone there to join the students’ protest. She said, she did not go to Jantar Mantar for Jammu and Kashmir. But she went there and justified the misuse of power and force in the name of fighting terrorism.