Pakistan

Mufti Sayeed praises Pakistan on first day as Indian Kashmir CM

Modi govt, BJP dissociate themselves with Sayeed's statement crediting Pakistan for allowing peaceful polls in state

Web Desk March 02, 2015

Indian Kashmir CM Mufti Sayeed. PHOTO: AFP

NEW DELHI: On his first day as Chief Minister of Indian-administered Kashmir Mufti Muhammed Sayeed praised Pakistan, Hurriyat leaders, and other outfits for the conduct of peaceful assembly elections, The Economic Times reported.

"I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister (also) that we must credit Hurriyat, Pakistan, militant outfits for the conduct of assembly elections," Sayeed said at his maiden news conference as chief minister.

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

Read: India's ruling Hindu party forms coalition in mainly Muslim Kashmir

Sayeed said any subversive activity could have affected electoral participation, especially in Srinagar.

"I am proud that Srinagar, the heart of Kashmir also came forward and voted," he said.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah reacted to Sayeed's comment. He tweeted: "Dear @BJP4India Please explain roll of security forces & polling staff considering your CM just said "Pakistan allowed elections in J&K".

Meanwhile, the Indian government dissociated itself with Sayeed's statement, NDTV reported.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said his government and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distances itself from the Sayeed's remarks in Lok Sabha, where opposition parties shouted demands for an explanation from the government.

"The credit for conducive environment for polls in Jammu and Kashmir goes to the Election Commission, our armed forces and people of Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said.

Read: India's Modi meets incoming Kashmir leader after deal

The home minister said he was making the statement after discussing it with the Prime Minister.

The Congress questioned why Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not raise objections to Mufti's comment and walk out of Lok Sabha.

COMMENTS (25)

R.Subramanian | 9 years ago | Reply @Omar: Reason is very simple, to protect JK people from Pakistan terrorist Indian army has to be in Kashmir. The new chief minister of JK has also acknowledged this fact. If Pakistan and terrorist wanted means they could have disrupted the election. In future if anything like that happens means everyone in the world will know who is the culprit, it is not local people it is Pakistan which is doing all kinds of terror activities in the valley. Thanks CM for telling the truth boldly

Gujesh | 9 years ago | Reply An attempt to pacify his own constituency after joining hands with BJP.

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zafar | 9 years ago | Reply @Manju: And please take another 30 seconds and explain how did those 'strategic assets' were materialized by Pakistan while a million strong impotent Indian army sits in Kashmir since 1948? May I remind you that given whatever rule you choose either Kashmir or Hyderabad Deccan should have been a part of Pakistan. Historically damaged Indian trolls.

MSS | 9 years ago | Reply @Omar, Srinagar is hard to reach from the Indian side than Pakistani side. It can be a logistical nightmare for India in case of emergency. India keeps the army there partly to make sure that Pakistani army does not make a dash for Srinagar and capture it as it tried during Kargil and in 1965 and also to prevent terrorists crossing into Kashmir.

Suraj Parkash Tuteja | 9 years ago | Reply It is maliciously forgotten by Pakistan rulers that the plebiscite proposed by UNCIP was accepted by India but sabotaged by Pakistan. This was because the plebiscite was to follow a three-step process-one, total withdrawal of Pakistani troops and irregulars from the state; two, the draw-down but not elimination of the Indian military presence; and, three, the establishment of an Indian administration in the state. Pakistan never accepted this sequencing. India would be ready to initiate talks but since UN asked Pakistan to vacate its armies, not India or Indian armies, it is only Pakistan who is forcibly not vacating part of Kashmir. Now the talks will be around when is Pakistan going to vacate the Kashmir it occupied, asked by UN to vacate, but is still holding. People in Pakistan must understand why long time over half a century harping by Pakistan on every international forum, why the entire World community does not now ever respond. Better, if Pakistan learns the realities on ground, start cooperating with India on matters of trade, business, cultural relations, industries, and research, and start preparing grounds for the prosperity of Pakistan people. So far, crying like a child asking for the moon. Suraj arkash Tuteja

prabhat | 9 years ago | Reply @Qazi: Yea.. You are right.. He said thanks in very sarcastic way.. It's like thanking dacoits that they didnt raid poor villager during the holy month..

Qazi | 9 years ago | Reply Mufti is being over smart.

Tariq | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada: The CM of IOK just publicly snubbed the BJP and praised Pakistan and the Hurriat! How did you reach your own absurd conclusions on the freedom struggle of Kashmir?

srivastava | 9 years ago | Reply He thanked Pakistan for not disrupting elections through violence. Ironically, this is the tone of a man in terrorised by violence, victim thanks the guilty for sparing him further pain. Is this something Pakistan should be proud of?

Ganesh | 9 years ago | Reply @Raisani: Mia,we know to put our people on high pedastal[sayeed becoming CM] and also to throw them to dustbin when we want....hahahahahaha!!

Imran | 9 years ago | Reply Mufti's greatest enemies are not BJP or Indians, but Pakistani Liberals.

Rehan Masood | 9 years ago | Reply well E.T, the heading is pure wrong. Its not Indian Kashmir or even Indian-administered Kashmir. It is Indian-occupied Kashmir. Live with the fact. Regards, Rehan

Rahul | 9 years ago | Reply India playing "Good Cop-Bad Cop" with Pakistan and Pakistan falling for it.

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakib - I think the Mufti hit two birds in a single stone... The first hit was as you said a left-handed compliment which landed on the Pakistan/or those non-state actors who're unable to decide about what to make of his statement. The second one was for the BJP, to assert himself after the kiss and makeup. If that's so, he's indeed a genius.

Raisani | 9 years ago | Reply well done Mufti, hope in your tenure, the Kashmir assembly will soon pass a resolution to make Jammu & Kashmir a part of Pakistan.

Manju | 9 years ago | Reply @Omar: How about this simple explanation? Your 'strategic assets'...

Manju | 9 years ago | Reply It simply amazes me to see how much Pakistanis misconstrue a statement. If thanking you guys for abstaining from disrupting the election process by using 'strategic assets' is praising you, God bless your intelligence! Is any Pakistani aware that via this article You are practically claiming that your 'strategic assets' are involved in terrorism in Kashmir???.

Rahul | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakib As always you didn't miss the point. Hyper nationalists are mostly uneducated literate, incapable of reading between the lines.

Rakib | 9 years ago | Reply Never came across a better left-handed compliment for Pakistan than this!! The good Mufti must have lodged his tongue firmly in his cheek....

John | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada: Hey Genius,so does that mean the almost half a million strong Indian Army in Occupied Kashmir is on a long-term picnic or maybe just sight seeing!

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada: Should you not be so naive, freedom from whom, freedom from colonial rule?

Omar | 9 years ago | Reply @Prada, Delusional, you are. Explain the reason you have several hundred thousand army sitting in Kashmir?

Hobi Haripur wala | 9 years ago | Reply Modi can walk out of any Sabha. Upper Sabha,..Lower Sabha. It will not change the truth.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply well, and mian sb praises India each time in his speech

Prada | 9 years ago | Reply “They also allowed the democratic process to continue in the state." That is indeed tall praise. Not sure how flattered Pakistan felt. Just goes to show that there is no indigenous uprising in Kashmir. A propaganda that Pakistan used to convince the world that there was a fight for freedom in Kashmir. The question is, freedom from whom? Turns out, it is a fight for freedom from Pakistan.

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