PM Modi man of the moment but India is Indira Gandhi for me: Mehbooba Mufti

Jammu & Kashmir chief minister said society should be more welcoming to idea of Kashmir, its natives

Hailing former prime minister Indira Gandhi as the ideal representative of the India that she envisions, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said 'India is Indira Gandhi' for her.

"When I was growing, Indira Gandhi represented India for me. Maybe some people won't like it, but to me, India is Indira Gandhi," she said, while speaking at a Kashmir event here on Friday.

However, Mufti was all praises for 'the man of the moment', Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, she believes, can be the true harbinger of peace and stability in The Valley.

"Prime Minister Modi has the potential to become the man of history and his leadership is an asset which needs to be harnessed. Our hopes are pinned on him to work together and bring Kashmir out of the mess," said Mufti.

Saddened by the portrayal of Kashmir and India as separate identities by the media, Mufti highlighted that the country is being misrepresented, adding that the society should be more welcoming to the idea of Kashmir and its natives.

"Kashmir is a mini India within India. We are a diverse state with all kinds of multi-diversity of religion and everything. Opposing religious divide, the state had aligned to a more secular and accommodative India where Hindus and Muslims pray together at a shrine and statues of Hindu gods are being made by Muslim artisans," she said, urging that the sentiment of 'azadi' needs to be replaced with a better idea.

Furthermore, Mufti while backing the people of her state vehemently denied the idea of revoking the state's special status granted as per Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, and said the flag and the special status were a crucial element of preserving the Valley's culture and heritage.