Mufti was addressing his first press conference after taking over as Chief Minister of the state Sunday.Asserting that there is no option other than talks with Pakistan over Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Sunday 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 Sunday.
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 continued…
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