Rajnath dissociates government, BJP from Mufti's remark

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday dissociated the government and the BJP from the remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed who gave credit to militants and Pakistan for the smooth conduct of assembly elections in the state.

The Congress and some other opposition parties staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha demanding a resolution on the issue.

Raising the matter in the Lok Sabha after the question hour, Congress member K.C. Venugopal condemned Sayeed's remarks. The opposition members also demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Venugopal said Sayeed had remarked that he had apprised Modi of his views. Modi Sunday attended the oath-taking of People's Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party government in Jammu.

The Congresss member said that credit for smooth conduct of assembly elections should go to the people of state, security forces and the people of the state.

"We expect a clarification from prime minister," he said.

Rajnath Singh said: "The government and the party fully dissociates themselves from the remarks."

The minister, who was repeatedly interrupted by opposition members, said that he had come to the house after talking to prime minister.

"What I am saying, I am saying with deliberation and with consent of prime minister," Rajnath Singh said.

He said the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir had been held in a conducive atmosphere. "I want to give credit for this to the election commission, armed forces and paramilitary forces," he said.

The minister said there had been no secret talk between the prime minister and chief minister and no contentious issue was discussed.

Sayeed had stoked a controversy on Sunday, saying that people from across the border had contributed to making the atmosphere conducive for elections. He also gave credit to the Hurriyat and militants, saying that if they had done something, it would not have been a smooth election with large participation of people.

Sayeed also pitched for taking Hurriyat Conference and separatists on board in talks on the Kashmir problem.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that the government should bring a resolution to send a message to the new chief minister over his remarks.

"He (Sayeed) will know that the entire house is against his remarks. It (smooth elections) happened because of people of the state, the government servants, but they are saying it happened due to Pakistan. The prime minister should come and condemn the remarks. What has the chief minister told the prime minister," Kharge said.

Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav also sought a statement from prime minister but Rajnath Singh said there was no question of such a statement.

Opposition members including those belonging to the Congress, Left parties and Trinamool Congress then staged a walk out.