NDA government dissociates itself from Mufti's remark

The NDA government on Monday "dissociated" itself from the comments of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed which credited Pakistan, separatist Hurriyat Conference and the militants for the peaceful conduct of assembly polls in the state.

"Our (NDA) government fully dissociates with the statement of Sayeed," union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, the opposition - led by the Congress - demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

To this, Rajnath Singh responded: "I have spoken with the prime minister and I am giving a statement only after speaking to him. Hence, there should be no controversy about this statement."

"The credit for the conducive atmosphere during the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls should go to the Election Commission, the army, paramilitary forces and the people of the state," the home minister said.

Congress leader of the house Mallikarjun Kharge said that since the prime minister is in the country, he should come and clarify the remarks of the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

Within hours of taking oath as the chief minister on Sunday, Sayeed said: "There is Hurriyat, there are militants. If they had done something, it would not have been such an election, there would not have been such participation."

He also said that people from across the border also contributed to making the atmosphere conducive during the election.