Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Soon after taking oath, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stoked a controversy saying Hurriyat, militant outfits and "people from across the border", an oblique reference to Pakistan, allowed conducive atmosphere for assembly polls, drawing sharp reaction from NC leader Omar Abdullah who demanded that BJP clarify its stand.
"I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister that the we must credit the Hurriyat, militant outfits for the conduct of assembly elections in the state," Sayeed said during a press conference here after being sworn in as head of the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir at a ceremony which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Flanked by deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh of BJP and newly inducted cabinet minister Haseeb Drabu, Sayeed said, "God forbid if they (militants) would have done something. It would not have been possible to have smooth conduct of the elections."

Sayeed said that he felt proud that the people in the heart of Srinagar city came out in large number to vote and thanked the "people from across the border" for the "conducive atmosphere" for the smooth conduct of the elections.

"People from across the border made the atmosphere conducive. They also allowed the democratic process to continue in the state. This gives us a hope," he said in a reference to Pakistan.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hit out at Sayeed’s remarks and asked BJP to explain its stand.

"Pakistan, Huriyaat & Militants ALLOWED Peaceful conduct of elections" says Syeed, I guess we should be grateful to their generosity (sic).

"Dear @BJP4India Please explain role of security forces & Polling staff considering your CM just said, "Pakistan allowed elections in J&K", Omar wrote on the microblogging site twitter.

On a retweet about BJP worker in Jammu celebrating Omar wrote, "Or Just thanking Pak for JK elections."

Speaking to reporters, Sayeed also voiced hope that the induction of separatist turned mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone in the Ministry would open avenues for others to follow the suit. "Sajjad Gani Lone has given an opening, an avenue for others (separatists) to follow," he said.

He said peace is a pre-requisite of governance.

"They (referring to Pakistan) also have assets Hurriyat, other militants, if they had done something (during the election) such a participation of people was not possible. I am proud that heart of the Valley Sringar also came forward and participated in the elections," Sayeed said.

"If Jammu and Kashmir have to be a model of growth. Like people in Gujarat say ’Good Governance’. Peace is prerequisite," he said.

Lauding the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a great statesman, Sayeed said the government will take forward his philosophy of "Insaniyat, Jamhooriat and Kashmiriyat".

"We believed that Hurriyat and separatists also have a view point. We did not keep them locked in homes," he said.

Sayeed said BJP and PDP have put together a great team to work together.
"History has given us an opportunity. Kashmir remained a problem before every Prime Minister be it Nehru, Shastri, Morarji and even before Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We want to change it. We want to make this alliance a turning point in trying to meet hearts and minds of the people," he said.

Sayeed said people like it or not but it was his decision to bring together "North Pole and South Pole".

He said Kashmir was the only Muslim majority state which rejected  Jinnah’s theory and acceded to India.

"In Kashmir complete autonomy and in Jammu ’Ek Pradhan, Ek Vidhan, Ek Nishan’. This has happened. We want to connect Kashmiri People with rest of the country, what is the purpose of connecting Kashmir with Jammu?...History has given us a chance. We have a majority in Kashmir, BJP has got 26 seats in Jammu," he said

Peaceful J-K polls due to those who trust in Const: BJP on Sayeed remark

Refusing to be drawn into the row over J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s remarks crediting people across the border and separatists for the peaceful polls in the state, BJP today said the exercise had been successful due to the efforts of the Election Commission and Indian Army and of those who believe in the Indian Constitution.

"The peaceful poll in Jammu and Kashmir was conducted with the support of the Election Commission and other security agencies, including state police, besides those who believe in the Indian Constitution," said BJP National Secretary, Shrikant Sharma.

Maintaining that the people of J-K want peace and development as they look to take their state forward on the path of progress, he said that the new PDP-BJP coalition government will try to fulfil these aspirations through good governance by following its Common Minimum Programme.

As it undertakes efforts to put the state on the path of development, the new government will also ensure that J-K is brought into the national mainstream, he added.

Stoking a controversy soon after taking oath as the J-K Chief Minister, Sayeed said credit must be given to the "people from across the border" -- an oblique reference to Pakistan -- Hurriyat and militant outfits for letting a conducive atmosphere prevail for the Assembly polls.

The remarks have drawn sharp reactions, including from National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, Sayeed’s predecessor in the chief minister’s post.

No option other than talks with Pakistan: Mufti on Kashmir

Asserting that there is no option other than talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had deputed Foreign Secretary to begin talks with neighbouring country.

"No such assurance... There is no question of assurance. He (Prime Minister) told me when he met me that I deputed my Foreign Secretary to go there and talk. It was his first response," Mufti told reporters when asked whether Prime Minister Modi has given him assurance on commencement of dialogue with Pakistan.

"It was his (PM’s) response. In my perception, there is no other option (other than holding talks with Pakistan)," he said.

Mufti was addressing his first press conference after taking over as Chief Minister of the state today.

Speaking further on the issue, Mufti said, "During meeting with the Prime Minister, I gave my perspective (on the need for Indo-Pak talks). We have a stand and voice on this. We are there.

"Our voice will be heard as we are democratically elected government. There is track-2 (for dialogue with Pakistan). What will happen if some of our people go there and hold talks. I do not thing it is controversy. In any case we are part of the government."

On the PDP-BJP alliance, the chief minister said, "BJP has mandate of the people of India and Modi is elected PM. It is not out of compulsion that I have gone in alliance with BJP but this alliance is out of conviction. I see future in this alliance."

Mufti said that the new alliance was aimed at reducing distance between the hearts of the people of the three regions of the state.

"It takes half-an-hour to reach from Jammu to Srinagar. The mandate that we got is to reduce the distance between the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Mufti said that peace was the prerequisite for carrying out any development-related activities in the state.

"I had told the Prime Minister that external and internal dimensions need to be addressed, we have to make Jammu and Kashmir a model of development, a model of good governance and for this peace is prerequisite," he said.

Referring to Sajjad Lone joining as Minister in state government, Mufti said, "In democratic process, I will say that my perception is that neither it will held by bullets nor grenades, the thing will be resolved by talks. After 2002, the faith of the people in democratic institutes have increased".

"The example is coming of Sajjad Lone. Yes, Sajjad has taken an initiative and its for the others to see and take a decision. They have seen other options," he said.
On the issue of accountability of security forces and reopening of old cases, he said, "Machil Fake encounter case is before you--punishment was given. We will make them accountable. We will not allow them to do mistake".

On the self rule, Mufti said, "It is evolutionary process. It is not sudden. It is connected mostly to cross-border initiatives. There is neither banking facilities, telephone facilities and no exchange of students. You can make these LOC points as Wagah border".

"What is motive of self rule... to reopen more routes between two sides. There is cross LoC travel and trade, it is important," he said.

He ruled out reports that BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav has said that there is no consensus on some issue.

Mufti said that the separatist in the Kashmir Valley too should be taken on board as they also have a view point which needs to be addressed.

"Hurriyat and separatists should be taken on board as they too have a view point, we need to address to them and to engage them," he said.

Invoking former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Mufti said he was a statesman who displayed patience in the face of adversity.

"Even during the Kargil war and after the attack on the Parliament when our forces and the Pakistani army were facing each other eyeball to eyeball, Vajpayee displayed remarkable patience and not a single bullet was fired on the border," he said.

He said the elections in 2002 were one of the fairest elections in the state when his party secured 16 seats.

"It was a mandate against National Conference, so Congress and PDP came forward to form an alliance in 2002, but in 2008 Congress high-command decided to go with National Conference," he said.

Referring to his previous government, Mufti said during his tenure as chief minister, Vajpayee had extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan.

"We had said that ’na bandook sai na goli sai, baat banay gi boli sai (Neither with a gun nor with a bullet reconciliation can be reached with dialogue), and it was Vajpayee who extended a hand of friendship towards Pakistan," he said.

Mufti said that in the CMP that his party formed with Congress in 2002, he had requested the Centre to initiate unconditional dialogue with the people of Kashmir.

Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the most diverse state in the country, Mufti said that the people of the state did not believe in the ideology of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

"Kashmir was the only Muslim majority state to stay with India and during my tenure as chief minister we gave full empowerment to Jammu," he said.

"History has given us an opportunity, since 1947 whoever has remained the prime minister of India, Kashmir issue continues to stare them. We want to make this alliance a turning point in the history of Kashmir," he said.

He said that his government would provide a transparent and accountable government to the people.