Mehbooba seeks apology for ‘toffee’ remark

SRINAGAR : Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday apologised for her remarks made in 2016 about local youths.

In July 2016, while addressing a press conference with Union Home minister Rajnath Singh in Srinagar, when asked about the killings of youths in firing by security forces, Mehbooba Mufti had blamed ‘miscreants’ for inciting children to violence and justified the killing of protesters by security forces

“Most of the children killed (by security forces) died in retaliation for attacking army camps. The children didn’t go to the army camps to buy milk or toffees,” she said while addressing party workers on the third death anniversary of her father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed at his graveyard in Bijbehara town of Anantnag district.

“Those remarks were aimed to show concern towards the lives of young boys who were put on front line by miscreants close to the police stations and army camps.”

“As a mother, I used to feel the pain and made those remarks in anger. Often mothers get angry with their children and I was angry on how those young boys were put on forefront,” she said.

She further added, “Didn’t I have this right to tell these children in a loud voice that you were a part of my rallies, why were you asked to stand in front of the protest demonstrations where you, God forbid, get injured. Still, I apologize. What else can I do?.”

The former CM said she was forced to form government with BJP after her father’s demise as her position to renegotiate was weakened by some of the party leaders.

“After my father’s death, I didn’t want to form government with the BJP and had put certain conditions, like getting back power projects, land under army at Anantnag, Tatoo ground, Kargil and other, to ally. People who were trying to create disturbance within the party went to

Nagpur and told RSS leadership that they were ready to form government with BJP and break the party which weakened my position for renegotiation,” she said.

‘MODI WASTED THE MANDATE HE GOT’

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, PDP president said that Narendra

PTI Former CM and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti offering prayers at the grave of her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on his third death anniversary at Bijbehara in Anantang on Monday.