Mehbooba Mufti became the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in April.
Highlights
- Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir CM, gave her maiden speech in assembly
- Opposition demands apology over analogy of Kashmiri Pandits, Muslims
- Opposition says she compared Muslims to cats, Padits to pigeons
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's Maiden speech in the assembly on Saturday has sparked a new row over a questionable analogy.
The Opposition National Conference has asked for an apology the Chief Minister for saying that settling migrant Kashmiri Pandits directly in their native villages in the valley could be similar to throwing "pigeons in front of a cat".
"First we have put them transit camps. We have to give them a breathing space. You are telling them to go directly to their villages. How is this possible?" said Ms Mufti.
"When situation is conducive they will go back to their villages in Ganderbal, Baramulla and Anantnag. At present they can't be thrown like pigeons in front of a cat," she said.
The remarks have angered Opposition National Conference (NC) party who have accused chief minister for demonizing Kashmiri Muslims.
"Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti owes an apology to the people of Kashmir for demonizing and defaming Kashmiris through her contemptuous and highly inappropriate 'cats and pigeons' analogy. It reflects her mindset," said NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu.
The party has also accused Ms Mufti of remaining silent on vital issues during her speech including controversial remarks by her minister and what they described as attempts to weaken the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
"Fact remains that the state's special status, its demographic character and its political rights have all come under open, blatant assault under this government," Mr Mattu said.