Srinagar, Jul 28: National Conference (NC) chief spokesperson and MLA Zadibal, Tanvir Sadiq on Tuesday said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s explanation over her controversial Jantar Mantar remarks was an “excuse, not regret.”
Talking to reporters here Sadiq said that Mehbooba should offer an unconditional apology to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly pellet victims and their families.
He said the PDP Chief’s clarification failed to address the real issue. “The people expected a simple and unconditional apology. Instead of admitting her mistake directly, she tried to justify what she had said. This was not an apology; it was an excuse,” he said.
Referring to the controversy over the viral video, Sadiq accused Mehbooba of first allowing PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra to defend her by questioning the authenticity of the clip and later contradicting him by admitting that the video was genuine.
“You threw your own MLA under the bus to cover up the controversy created by your own remarks and then publicly contradicted him when the damage could no longer be controlled,” he said, adding that leaders who face such public humiliation should introspect about their political future.
Sadiq said Mehbooba should not only apologise for her recent remarks but also for her earlier “Doodh & Toffee” statement.
“If today’s remarks were merely a slip of the tongue, then what about the ‘Doodh & Toffee’ remarks? She owes the people an apology for those as well,” he said.
He also reiterated that Mehbooba should apologise to pellet victims, grieving families and the people of Jammu and Kashmir who, he said, were hurt by her comments.
The NC leader castigated the PDP’s alliance with the BJP, saying Mehbooba should also apologise for “bringing the BJP to power in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“The people have not forgotten that decision,” he said.
Reacting to the PDP’s announcement of August 5 protests seeking the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, Sadiq dismissed the programme as “political drama.”
He alleged that the parties now protesting against the developments of August 5, 2019, had themselves created the circumstances that led to those decisions.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir understand the reality. These protests are nothing but political drama aimed at diverting attention from the real issue,” he said.
Earlier, in a post on X, Sadiq wrote, “What a weak, selfish, and ungrateful leader. You pushed your own MLA, Waheed, under the bus to clean up the mess created by your own remarks, only to publicly humiliate him when the damage couldn’t be contained. But @parawahid, you can say what she said is also AI.”
He further wrote that there was no ambiguity in Mehbooba’s remarks and that people across Jammu and Kashmir were “appalled” by the statement.
“There is no ‘if’or ‘but’ here. People across Jammu & Kashmir were appalled by your statement. The only appropriate response is a clear and unconditional apology to every Kashmiri who was hurt, especially the victims of pellet injuries,” he wrote.
Referring again to Mehbooba’s “Doodh & Toffee” remark, Sadiq wrote, “And while you’re at it, apologise for your ‘Doodh & Toffee’ remark as well. If today’s statement was merely a slip of the tongue, are you suggesting those remarks reflected your actual position?”
He added that Mehbooba should also apologise for “bringing the BJP to power in Jammu and Kashmir” and alleged that “everything else said today was simply an attempt to divert attention from the real issue: your original remarks.”—(KNO)
