Omar Abdullah terms FIR against Iltija Mufti ‘fixed match’ to resurrect PDP’s credibility

Jammu, Aug 7: Mocking police allegations that PDP leader Iltija Mufti bit an officer during a protest, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday dismissed an FIR against her as a “fixed match” designed to rebuild the party’s credibility and asked if she was a “five-year-old child who can bite someone”.

Abdullah launched the blunt attack in response to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s accusation that her party members, including her daughter Iltija, were being targeted by police for advocating the restoration of Article 370.

“Don’t ask me for commentary on this fixed match,” Abdullah told reporters.

“Now tell me, is Iltija Mufti a five-year-old child who can bite someone? Even a five-year-old knows that you don’t bite people in this manner.

“This unnecessary attempt to fool the public is nothing but an effort to make people forget about the ‘woh banta hai’ statement. Unfortunately, this keeps happening with the PDP,” he said.

Abdullah alleged that the controversy was engineered to divert public attention from Mehbooba’s recent “woh banta hai” remark at a Delhi protest in reference to security forces using pellet guns in Kashmir, which sparked fierce backlash after opponents accused her of rationalising violence in the region.

Though Mehbooba later issued an unconditional apology clarifying that she meant to say “bahana banta hai” (an excuse is made), Abdullah insisted the damage to her party’s standing was already done.

“After the ‘woh banta hai’ statement, their image has become so weak,” Abdullah said.

“This party did not rise on its own; it was created by the agencies. Whenever their image becomes weak, attempts are made by the agencies to restore their credibility. This unnecessary attempt to fool the public is nothing but an effort to make people forget,” he said.

Police maintain that Iltija assaulted an official during the August 5 protest, including biting him.

The PDP has fiercely rejected the charge, labelling the case a politically motivated crackdown aimed at suppressing demands for the return of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, which was revoked by the Centre in August 2019. (PTI)