Srinagar, Jul 28: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday apologised for her remarks made at Jantar Mantar that appeared to be justifying the use of force against Kashmiris, saying she meant to say that security forces have an “excuse” in the valley due to militancy.

“If the remarks have hurt the people, I apologise,” Mehbooba said addressing a press conference here on the occasion of the party’s 27th foundation day.

Mehbooba visited Jantar Mantar on July 23 to extend support to the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest against alleged examination irregularities.

While opposing police action against student protesters in Delhi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief appeared to defend the use of pellet guns in the valley in the past and faced backlash over it.

The former J-K chief minister on Tuesday clarified that she meant to say the words “bahana banta hai” — that security forces get an excuse to use force against Kashmiris as there is militancy in the valley but what “it slipped out” as she was “talking to a lot of people”.

Mehbooba said the video of her remarks was real, not fake or AI-generated. She said her remarks were given a different meaning, and sought an apology from the people.

“If my incomplete statement caused pain or hurt to my people who consider me one of their own and hold high expectations of me, I sincerely apologise for it,” she added.

She claimed that whenever her party speaks up, “not only the people in Delhi” but political parties in J-K also “feel threatened”.

“Attempts are made to damage my credibility because I haven’t accumulated wealth, built mansions, or indulged in luxuries. Instead, I built a genuine connection and enjoy credibility among the people,” she said.

The PDP president said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah went to Jantar Mantar to seek statehood and should have also stood there for the youth of J-K.

“Omar went to Jantar Mantar for statehood. What difference would it have made if he stood there for two minutes for the youth of J-K. I went there, but I did not on my own.

“The children from Jammu and Kashmir invited me over the phone because Kashmiri students outside often face hardship in colleges, universities and hostels and they thought Mehbooba will go there and it will perhaps help them. I went there, and said that today, the entire India has become Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

She accused the National Conference (NC) of blowing her remarks out of proportion. “But, I am not bothered.”

“The NC is presenting it in a way as if I signed on the death warrants of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, or as if I had said ‘Kashmiriyon ko goli maro'(open fire on Kashmiris),” the PDP chief said.

Guru, a convict in the 2001 Parliament attack, was hanged inside Tihar Jail on February 9, 2013, while Bhat, the JKLF founder, was hanged on February 11 in 1984.

Chief Minister Abdullah and his NC had sought an apology from Mehbooba over her remarks at Jantar Mantar.

Abdullah on Monday said the PDP president should have “stayed home” instead of going to Jantar Mantar and justifying the use of force against Kashmiris, and that she should apologise for her remarks.

“Irresponsible” statements made by people who have been in a position of power can act as a deterrent for ordinary people to fight for their rights, Abdullah told reporters outside his private office.

Abdullah said, “When a former chief minister says use of force is justified in Kashmir for fighting militancy, who will come out to fight for their rights? It would have been better if she had not gone to Jantar Mantar.”

“When we (politicians) support oppression and use of force by the Centre, who will support us if people want to protest for the restoration of statehood? They will not come out because Mehbooba ji has said ‘yeh to banta hai (this is acceptable)’,” he added.

The CM said Mehbooba did not visit Jantar Mantar for the NC’s protest to demand the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, but went there for the students’ protest.

“She did not go to Jantar Mantar for Jammu and Kashmir. But she went there and justified the misuse of power and force on the pretext of fighting militancy.

“How does she justify it? Should the children not get justice because there is militancy? Should passports be stopped because there is militancy? Should laws not be implemented because there is militancy? I could not understand how it is justified,” Abdullah said.