NC Leaders Condemn Mufti's Remarks
The National Conference (NC) has demanded an unconditional apology from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over her recent comments in which she appeared to justify the use of force against Kashmiri protesters by equating them with militants. The controversy erupted after NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar shared a video clip of Mufti speaking at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where she drew a parallel between protests in the national capital and those in Kashmir.
In the video, Mufti is heard saying, "There were people without badges and uniforms helping the Delhi Police baton-charge the protesters. This is the first time we have witnessed such scenes here. Although we have seen this in Kashmir for years, there is militancy, so it is understood that it was militants on one side and security forces on the other. But here (in Delhi) there is no militancy, and the protesters neither have stones nor weapons in their hands. They were protesting in a non-violent manner."
NC Spokesperson Calls Remarks 'Appalling'
Imran Nabi Dar expressed shock at Mufti's statement, writing on X: "I am appalled beyond words. Mehbooba Mufti unabashedly and casually brands every Kashmiri protester a ‘militant’. The kids, the little girls... just everyone was a militant, she says. She goes on to justify the brutal use of force against Kashmiris. And then she goes on her classic act of shedding tears for their release from detention." Dar's post included the video clip, which was also shared on NC's official X handle with a sarcastic remark: "If you happen to be a Kashmiri who is protesting for his/her rights, aap pe force use karna to ‘banta hai’. Wow."
Senior NC Leader Tanvir Sadiq Joins Condemnation
Zadibal MLA and senior NC leader Tanvir Sadiq also demanded an apology from Mufti, saying, "For a former Chief Minister to virtually justify the use of force against Kashmiri protesters by saying ‘banta hai’ is nothing short of disgraceful. Worse still, she has gone to the extent of branding protesting Kashmiris as ‘militants’." Sadiq's remarks reflect the growing anger within the NC over what they perceive as Mufti's betrayal of the Kashmiri cause.
Apni Party's Altaf Bukhari Criticizes Mufti
Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari also weighed in, criticizing Mufti's statement. He said, "I am neither shocked nor surprised by Mehbooba Mufti’s latest video statement in which she draws a parallel between the Gen Z protesters at Jantar Mantar and those who used to protest in Kashmir, and goes on to describe Kashmir’s protesters as militants." Bukhari's comment underscores that the controversy has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
PDP Defends Mufti: Video Edited
Defending Mufti, PDP MLA Waheed Para alleged that the NC had shared an edited version of the video. "The statement by Mehbooba Mufti was made in the context that whatever happens in Kashmir is being extended to other parts of the country. She said that because of terrorism and militancy, the government justifies the use of force against protesters in Kashmir, but the same cannot be justified in Delhi, where the situation is entirely different," Para explained. He claimed that the context was deliberately distorted to target Mufti.
Political Fallout in Jammu and Kashmir
The incident has triggered a fresh political row in Jammu and Kashmir, with the NC using it to target its rival PDP ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The NC has called for Mufti to retract her statement and apologize to the people of Kashmir. The controversy also highlights the deep divisions over how the decades-long insurgency in Kashmir is framed—whether protesters are automatically labeled as militants or whether the state's use of force is disproportionate.
As of now, Mehbooba Mufti has not responded to the demand for an apology. However, her party's defense suggests that the matter may escalate further, with both sides digging in. The episode is likely to feature prominently in the ongoing political discourse in the region.
