Barely hours after taking oath of office, Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed on Sunday kicked up a controversy by crediting Hurriyat, militants and people from across the border (Pakistan) for “allowing” the peaceful conduct of the Assembly polls in December 2014. Opposition parties lapped up Mufti’s statement and demanded a clarification from the BJP over the remark that was seen as one that took away the credit from the people who participated in the poll process overwhelmingly, the security forces who ensured a peaceful conduct of elections and the Election Commission. As things stand, the Hurriyat had reiterated its poll boycott call as always and the militants, aided by Pakistan, too had tried to disrupt the electoral process with acts of violence.
Mufti’s controversial statement came soon after he along with his deputy Nirmal Singh released the ‘Agenda of the Alliance’ at a jam-packed Press conference at his official residence in Jammu. “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. People from across the border allowed conducive atmosphere during the elections. My humble submission is, peaceful elections were not possible if they had done something. You know how just a small action was needed to disturb the elections. They allowed this democratic process to go ahead. This gives us hope,” Mufti said.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who had earlier skipped the oath-taking ceremony, lost no time in hitting back. Omar tweeted, “Pakistan, Hurriyat & militants allowed peaceful conduct of elections, says Sayeed, I guess we should be grateful to their generosity. Dear @BJP4India Please explain role of security forces & polling staff considering your CM just said, “Pakistan allowed elections in J&K.”
Clarifying his remarks during the Press conference, Mufti later said: “No, I did not credit the separatists. They did give a call for boycott. Nevertheless I would like to say election is a democratic process. like we always say, na grenade se, na goli se, baat banegi boli se. After the 2002 elections, in J&K the faith of the people on democratic institutions has increased. Sajjad lone is a part of that process. Sajjad lone made a breakthrough. As far as other separatists’ stand (boycott call) is concerned, that is their stand, their policy. But this time they did not give much thrust on it.”
In Delhi, refusing to be drawn into the row over Mufti’s remarks, BJP 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.
The statement apart, Mufti listed out his agenda of governance saying: “Peace is a pre-requisite of governance. If Jammu & Kashmir have to be a model of growth then we have to work together and focus all our energies on giving a responsive, accountable and smart Government to the people.” lauding the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a great statesman, Mufti 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.
Mufti said the 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. He said Kashmir was the only Muslim majority State which rejected Jinnah’s theory and acceded to India.