Miffed Mehbooba walks out of presser with Rajnath Singh

Faced with questions about disproportionate use of force against protesters, J&K CM gets angry, says Kashmiri youths are being used as shields

Srinagar: When Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was asked to justify the Kashmir killings in the ongoing bloody unrest, she angrily walked out of the press conference she jointly addressed with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti in Srinagar. Pic/PTI

Mehbooba was asked how could she justify the alleged disproportionate use of force against protesters when as opposition leader she had criticised the government in 2010 for civilian killings. She got angry and asked a reporter not to compare the two situations. “You are wrong. What happened in 2010 had a reason. There was a fake encounter in Machil. Three civilians were killed. Today three militants were killed in an encounter and how is the government to be blamed for that.”

She said that people came out on the roads after the killing of Burhan Wani even though the government had imposed a strict curfew. “Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp? A 15-year-old boy who attacked a police station (in south Kashmir), had he gone to buy milk? Don’t compare the two,” she said. She said that poor Kashmiri youth were being used as shield by vested interests.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!