Mehbooba Mufti Draws Criticism Over University Demolition Stance and Pellet‑Gun Comments

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath after the Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition of 38 of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, a campus founded by jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. Mufti called the action "hatred and vengeance" and urged students to protest, likening the response to the Jantar Mantar demonstrations.

Mufti also faced widespread backlash for stating at a CJP protest in New Delhi that the use of pellet guns in Kashmir is "banta hai" (understandable) because of militancy. The ruling National Conference demanded an apology, and Kashmiri parties condemned the remark as insensitive to victims of pellet‑gun injuries sustained during her own tenure as chief minister from 2016–2018.