Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday, 27 July called on former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti to publicly apologise for her controversial remarks about the use of force at Jantar Mantar, saying her attempt to blame the controversy on an AI-generated video was unacceptable. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said Mufti's refusal to acknowledge her own words despite widespread criticism reflected a pattern of political double-speak.

What Omar Abdullah Said

Abdullah accused Mufti of trying to appease certain sections outside Jammu and Kashmir rather than owning her statement. He alleged that her remarks at Jantar Mantar did not represent the interests of the people of the region — instead, he said, they appeared to justify and even advocate the use of force in the Kashmir Valley.

'She has not forgotten the habit of saying one thing here and another in Delhi,' Abdullah remarked pointedly.

On the AI-generated video claim made by one of Mufti's MLAs, Abdullah was direct: 'Everyone saw that reel. She should have accepted that what she said was not correct,' he said, adding that a public apology would not have cost Mufti any political standing.

The Controversy Over Mufti's Remarks

Mehbooba Mufti's comments at Jantar Mantar drew sharp criticism after she reportedly said that the force used on students there was not justified — because, she suggested, such force could only be used in Kashmir. The remarks were widely seen as implying a normalisation of state action against Kashmiris, triggering backlash from political figures across the region.

A spokesperson from Mufti's camp subsequently claimed the video of the speech was AI-generated, a denial that Abdullah explicitly rejected.

Omar Abdullah on Militancy and Civil Liberties

Broadening his remarks, Abdullah acknowledged that militancy remains a challenge in Jammu and Kashmir but argued it cannot serve as a blanket justification for curtailing ordinary citizens' rights. 'If there is militancy here, that does not mean there should be random arrests or that passports should be withheld,' he said.

This framing positions Abdullah as distinguishing between legitimate security operations and what he described as arbitrary action against civilians — a line he argued Mufti's remarks had blurred.

PDP-BJP Alliance and a Pattern of No Regret

Abdullah also revisited Mufti's political record, citing the PDP's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015 as one of several episodes over which she has neither apologised nor expressed regret. He alleged that refusing accountability has been a consistent feature of her political conduct, making the current controversy part of a longer pattern rather than an isolated incident.

What Comes Next

The exchange sharpens the political divide between the two largest parties in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of what is expected to be a contested period for the Union Territory's administration. Mufti has not publicly responded to Abdullah's latest remarks. Whether the PDP formally addresses the controversy — or continues to contest the video's authenticity — is likely to define the next phase of this political standoff.