Mufti stands by remark on Pakistan, opposition demands ‘clarification’ by PM Modi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (Photo: PTI/File)
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said on Monday that he stands by the statement ‘thanking’ the Hurriyat and Pakistan for allowing peaceful election in Jammu and Kashmir.
"What I said, I stand by it," he told reporters after casting his vote for the Council election at the Legislature Complex.
"What I said yesterday about Pakistan and Hurriyat... the recovery and working of democracy in Kashmir and faith in it (was that) they (Pakistan and Hurriyat) have recognised and understood that the voter slip is the destiny of the people, not bullets or grenades," he said.
"And this voter slip has been given to us by the Constitution of India... The people of J-K have more faith in this (right). They (people from across the border and Hurriyat) did not interfere, as was happening in past (elections)," he said.
Shortly after taking oath as the CM, Sayeed said that the Hurriyat, Pakistan and militants 'allowed' a conducive atmosphere for assembly polls in the state.
"The Hurriyat, Pakistan and militants allowed conducive atmosphere for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir," Sayeed said at a press conference.
Read: Mufti remark row: Uproar in Lok Sabha, Congress demands clarification from Narendra Modi
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, however, did not endorse the statement and said that the Centre disassociates itself from Mufti's statement.
The statement, however, earned a quick backlash from his predecessor Omar Abdullah on Twitter.
"Pakistan, Huriyaat and Militants ALLOWED peaceful conduct of elections" says Mufti Syed. I guess we should be grateful for their generosity," he posted.
In a sharp attack Mufti, the Congress demanded a clarification from Prime Minister over the issue.
Read: Smooth polls due to J&K people, security, EC: Centre
Meanwhile, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti said the CM's remarks did not discredit the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Under attack for the remarks, Mufti said that only a part of what he had said yesterday was highlighted while the "positive things" were ignored.
"They want to make mountain out of a mole hill. The positive things that I spoke about yesterday were not highlighted, but more focus was on what Mufti said.”
"Mufti said that the democratic right that Kashmir has got in the Constitution of India and the strength that democratic institutions have got, it is because of the voter slip, that they have recognised," he explained.
"Everything they have tried. They (forces across the border) recognised the institution of democracy. What I said, I stand by it," he said.
Read: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti defends father's statement
Sayeed, who was sworn-in as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir earlier in the day, stated that he had forged the alliance with BJP out of conviction not convenience.
He added that the two parties wanted to make the alliance a turning point in trying to meet the hearts and minds of the people and urged the Government of India to initiate a dialogue with people of Jammu and Kashmir.
