Srinagar, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday apologised for her remarks made during a recent protest at Jantar Mantar, saying she had inadvertently omitted a key phrase that altered the context of her statement.
In a clarification issued amid the controversy, Mufti said that while referring to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s tenure as Union Minister of State for External Affairs, she had intended to highlight his defence of the continued presence of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
She said she had unintentionally omitted the words, “bahana banta hai security forces ka rakhne ka”, while speaking to reporters, acknowledging that the omission changed the meaning of her remarks.
“I apologise to the people of Jammu and Kashmir for this error,” Mufti said.
Addressing the controversy over a video clip of her comments that went viral on social media, the PDP chief rejected claims that the footage had been doctored or generated using artificial intelligence. She maintained that the video was authentic and said the controversy stemmed from her inadvertent omission rather than any manipulation of the recording.
The clarification comes after her remarks drew criticism from political parties and social media users across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had criticised Mufti over her comments, while People’s Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone also accused her of attempting to justify the use of force in the Union Territory. The People’s Conference had also organised a protest against her remarks.
The PDP had initially defended its leader by alleging that the viral video had been manipulated using artificial intelligence. However, Mufti’s latest statement acknowledges the authenticity of the video while attributing the controversy to an omission in her remarks.
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