PM disapproves of Mufti Sayeed''s comments

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 3

Breaking his silence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday disapproved of comments of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed giving credit to Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants for smooth conduct of Assembly polls, saying such a statement cannot be supported.

(See video: Modi distances himself from J&K CM’s remarks)

"If somebody makes such a statement, we can never support it," Modi said in Rajya Sabha, referring to the controversial remarks made by Sayeed who is heading a PDP-BJP coalition government in the state.

He asserted that his government "will move ahead with the policy of 'zero tolerance' towards terrorism" and "all resolutions passed here (in Parliament) will be implemented in letter and spirit."

Modi said the credit for the successful elections goes to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who "removed doubts" in the international community by turning up in large numbers with "overwhelming courage and pride" and "put their stamp of approval on what India had been saying all along".

Earlier, Mufti Sayeed's controversial comments created a furore in Parliament for the second consecutive day on Tuesday morning.

A collective Opposition comprising the Congress, Trinamool Congress, NCP, Aam Aadmi Party and the Left demanded a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They also called for the House passing a resolution condemning Sayeed’s statement.

Sources said back-channel talks were on between the ruling NDA combine and the Opposition to find a way-out to end the impasse. The issue forced two adjournments as the Opposition stormed the Well of the House. A section within the ruling combine, including Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, too thumped his desk at the demand for the resolution.

The Opposition said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's yesterday’s clarification was not sufficient. Rajnath had said, "The Union Government and the BJP disassociate from the remarks made by the J&K CM."

The Opposition is demanding a clarification on Sayeed’s claim that he had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister before making the statement. The Opposition had refused to accept Rajnath's clarification yesterday as well and had staged a walkout. — With PTI inputs