Jammu, Mar 2: Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed Monday said he stands by his statement that Pakistan, militants and separatists allowed “conductive atmosphere for peaceful assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir”, day after his remarks triggered a political storm.
Mufti said there was nothing wrong in what he said. “There is nothing wrong in my statement; I stand by my words,” he told reporters after casting his votes for six seats of Legislative Council, here.
“The media is making a mountain out of molehill; everybody is discussing what Mufti said. Yesterday I just said that people reposed their faith in democracy which is guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. The people realized the power of vote and overwhelmingly participated in the polls,” he said, adding, “Even Pakistan and separatist groups have understood that democracy is the only way to resolve the issues of the state.” Mufti said: “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.”
“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.
Soon after taking oath yesterday, Sayeed had said that credit must be given to people from across the border—an oblique reference to Pakistan—Hurriyat and militant outfits for “allowing a conducive atmosphere” for the Assembly polls in December last year in J-K.
Under attack for the remarks, Mufti today 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.”
“Everything they have tried. They (forces across the border) recognised the institution of democracy. What I said, I stand by it,” he said.
