SRINAGAR, JAN 07 : Peoples Democratic Party chairperson and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Monday apologised for her toffee remark that she made during the peak of 2016 summer uprising.
Addressing workers on the death anniversary of his father late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed at Bijbehara in south Kashmir, Mehbooba said that she was concerned like a mother about the young people who were getting killed and injured.
“It hurt me that some people with vested interests were pushing young boys towards army camps and police stations,” she said.
“Didn’t I have this right to tell these children in a loud voice that you were part of my rallies… why were you asked to stand in the front of those rallies (protest demonstrations) where you, God forbid, got injured,” said Mehbooba while addressing her workers on the death anniversary of her father Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
“I still apologise if anyone was hurt,” she said: “What else can I do?”
Mehbooba was widely criticised for her comment during 2016 uprising that the “youth were not going to army camps and police stations to buy toffee and milk”.
“I am concerned for children like a mother. Was not my right to make such remarks. If anyone mother feels bad I apologize for that,” she added.
During the peak of 2016 summer uprising after the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani, Mehbooba while addressing a press conference in Srinagar along with the Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh justified the killing of youth by saying that “they were not going to camps and police station to buy toffees and milk”.
Mehbooba also added that Narendra Modi ‘wasted’ his mandate as he didn’t initiate any dialogue with Pakistan.
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, she said: “Those youths were not going to Army camps and police stations to buy toffee and milk.”
Over 100 youths were killed in 2016 during the unrest that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Addressing party workers on the death anniversary of her father, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, she said on Monday: “I was concerned about my children being pushed to rallies where they get injured.
“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?”
During the peak of 2016 summer uprising after the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani, Mehbooba while addressing a press conference in Srinagar along with the Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh justified the killing of youth by saying that “they were not going to camps and police station to buy toffees and milk”. (PTK)