CM stokes controversy, gives credit to Pak, militants for smooth elections

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 1

Newly appointed Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed kicked up a controversy just after taking oath today. He said “people across the border” had allowed the democratic process to function on this side of the border during the recently held Assembly elections in the state.

Although he downplayed his statement by saying that separatist groups of the Valley had given a boycott call during the elections but had not interrupted the democratic process.
In an obvious reference towards Pakistan and some militant groups active on the other side of the border, Mufti said: “People from across the border (paar ke logo nay bhi) have allowed creating a conducive atmosphere for strengthening the democratic process in J&K during the Assembly elections. This gives us a hope.”
Flanked by newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and newly appointed Cabinet minister Haseeb Drabu, Mufti was addressing a press conference after releasing “Agenda of the Alliance” to run the PDP-BJP coalition in J&K.
“Peace is a pre-requisite for strengthening the democratic process. This year’s Assembly elections have strengthened democratic institutions in J&K,” the Chief Minister said.
“I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister that we must credit the people from across the border for the conduct of the (peaceful) Assembly elections in the state,” Mufti said. He added, “If they (militants) would have done something, it would not have been possible to have smooth elections.”
Mufti said he felt proud that people of Srinagar city had come out in large numbers to vote. He thanked the “people from across the border” for the “conducive atmosphere” for the smooth conduct of the elections.              
Referring to separatist-turned-mainstream leader and People’s Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone who was inducted into the Council of Ministers today, Mufti said Lone had made a breakthrough.
“Lone’s induction into the Cabinet would open avenues for others to follow suit. He has given an opening, an avenue for others (separatists) to follow,” Mufti said.        
Lauding then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a great statesman, Mufti said the government would take forward his philosophy of “insaniyat, jamhooriat and Kashmiriyat”.

EC, our supporters behind peaceful polls: BJP
New Delhi: The BJP on Sunday reacted cautiously to the remark of newly anointed Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed wherein he credited people from across the border and separatists for peaceful elections in the state.
BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “The peaceful polls in Jammu and Kashmir were conducted with the support of the Election Commission, Army, other security agencies and the state police. People of J&K who believe in the Indian Constitution are responsible for the successful conduct of the polls in the state.”

SIDELIGHTS

No celebration in Mufti’s hometown
Bijbehara wore a deserted look today. People in the hometown of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stayed indoors to watch the swearing-in and cricket on television. There was no celebration, unlike in 2002 when Mufti took oath for the first time. This time, the day passed off as an ordinary one. Not many visitors were seen at the ancestral house of Mufti. People said they had hope from the new government vis-à-vis good governance. Mohsin Ahmad, 32-year-old entrepreneur, said he had faced official indifference. “I voted for the PDP and want it to deliver on the promises made. Its tie-up with the BJP will make little difference,” he said.

Anjum Fazili, Priya Sethi nominated to state Assembly
Governor NN Vohra on Sunday nominated Anjum Fazili and Priya Sethi to the Legislative Assembly. The nomination has been made by the Governor in exercise of powers under Section 47 Sub-section (1) of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. An SRO in this regard was issued here today.

In a first, two women inducted into Cabinet
The 25-member Cabinet of the newly elected government led by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has created history by inducting two women Aseia Naqash and Priya Sethi from the Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP, respectively, into the Cabinet. While Aseia won the Assembly elections from the Hazratbal constituency in Srinagar, Priya is the president of the J&K BJP Mahila Morcha and is to be nominated as an MLA by her party. Aseia and Priya were sworn in as the Ministers of State at the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected government on Sunday.

Governor’s rule ends in state
Governor NN Vohra on Sunday issued a proclamation to end Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir which had commenced from January 8. A Raj Bhawan spokesperson said the proclamation issued by the Governor brought to an end the period of Governor's rule in the state. The proclamation was issued to revoke the earlier proclamation, issued by the Governor on January 9 in exercise of powers conferred upon him under Section 92 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, whereby he had assumed all functions of the government of the state.