‘I Meant Bahana, Not Banta Hai’: Mehbooba Mufti Regrets Viral Pellet Remark
SRINAGAR — Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday offered a public apology and clarification regarding her controversial “banta hai” remark on the use of force and pellet guns in Jammu and Kashmir. Describing the comment as an inadvertent slip of the tongue during a speech in New Delhi, Mufti stated that her intention was to highlight how militancy is used as a “pretext” (bahana) by authorities to deploy heavy force, rather than to justify it. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The clarification came following intense political backlash across the Kashmir Valley over a viral video clip from her address to protesting students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. In the video, Mufti was seen contrasting police action in Delhi with that in Kashmir, remarking that due to the presence of militancy in the region, a degree of force “banta hai” (is justified). Opposing political parties, including the ruling National Conference (NC), heavily criticized the statement, accusing her of legitimizing past police actions and civilian injuries.
Clarification and Apology
Addressing reporters at a press conference in Srinagar, the PDP chief acknowledged that her incomplete wording had caused widespread distress.
“I wanted to say ‘bahana banta hai’ [it becomes an excuse], but because I was speaking in a hurry, I ended up saying ‘banta hai’. My statement must have hurt the sentiments of people who consider me their own. I seek an apology for this misinterpretation,” Mufti said.
She insisted that her political career stands as proof that she has never defended state excesses against civilians.
August 5 Protests and Article 370 Agenda
Turning to the region’s broader political scenario, Mufti announced a series of key political actions aimed at keeping the demand for constitutional rights alive:
- Statewide Demonstrations: The PDP will hold peaceful protests across all 20 district headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, marking the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A.
- Core Political Demands: She reiterated calls for the reopening of cross-Line of Control (LoC) trade routes, a comprehensive review of political detentions, and the gradual pullback of armed forces from areas where militancy has declined.
- Pushback Against NC: Mufti criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his recent remarks suggesting that the restoration of Article 370 was improbable. She argued that ruling out the return of special status instills a sense of defeatism among the public and normalizes the decisions taken in August 2019.
The PDP chief emphasized that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir remains the core issue of the region and cannot be replaced solely by the demand for statehood.
