Soon after taking oath, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today stoked a controversy saying Hurriyat Conference, militant outfits and “people from across the border”, an oblique reference to Pakistan, allowed conducive atmosphere for Assembly polls.
“I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister that 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.
Flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh of BJP and newly inducted Cabinet Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu of PDP, 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 numbers 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.
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 Srinagar also came forward and participated in the elections,” Sayeed said.
“If Jammu and Kashmir has 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,” the Chief Minister said.
He said people like it or not but it was his decision to bring together “North Pole and South Pole”.
The PDP leader 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 with the addition of Pawan Gupta, an Independent, in the Ministry,” he said.
Asked about position on AFSPA, Dr Haseeb Drabu said revocation of AFSPA is a process. “Don’t treat as either or,” he said.
Mufti, when asked to further clarify his statement on separatists, said, “After 2002, people’s faith in democratic institutions have increased. Sajjad Lone whose two candidates have won. He made a breakthrough.”
“They have a stand, which should not have been taken, to not contest election. If they did not give thrust on it. Sajjad Lone gave an opening. He has taken an initiative. Diamond cuts diamond,” he said when asked whether more separatists may join democratic process.
He said it was for the separatists to decide whether they want to join the process.
“Arun Jaitley has given a reply in the Parliament. The Hurriyat, separatists are our own people with whom dialogue can take place. So if a formal dialogue can take place, PM can speak we can see,” he said.
Asserting that there is no option other than talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, Sayeed said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had deputed Foreign Secretary Jaishankar 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 said.
“It was his (PM’s) response. In my perception, there is no other option (other than holding talks with Pakistan),” he said.
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 think 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 has increased”.
“The example is coming of Sajjad Lone. Yes, Sajjad has taken an initiative and it’s 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 the 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.
Underlining the future course of action for his Government, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said fighting corruption will be his first priority but unlike Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal he will not ask people to carry mobiles to expose corruption.
“Fighting corruption will remain my first priority. I will not say like Kejriwal to keep mobiles in pocket. I can listen, I can understand what is what. The officers have to change their working style. They have to… Dedicate themselves. We have best human resource as officers. How did I deliver in 2002?,” he said.
Mufti thanked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for announcing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian Institute of Technology in Jammu and Kashmir.
The 79-year-old Chief Minister said unemployment remains the biggest challenge, besides ensuring 100 per literacy in the State is also his priority.
He also said there are a lot of claims about growing tourism in the Valley but there are hardly two-three five star hotels in Srinagar whereas there is only one good hotel in Gulmarg which remains booked for three years in advance.
Mufti said he would also give special attention to Jammu area to be developed as an “independent” tourism destination besides making it an industrial hot spot of the State.
Follow our WhatsApp channel