Modi distances government from Sayeed's remarks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday distanced his government from the controversial remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed crediting Pakistan and militants for peaceful elections in the state.

Modi, however, said the PDP-BJP alliance government in Jammu and Kashmir will run on the common minimum programme (CMP).

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the president's address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi did not name Sayeed but referred to his remarks that created an uproar in parliament.

"We do not support it, neither can we support it. A statement is made somewhere and we give reply, we will not go in that direction," Modi said.

It was the first time that Modi spoke on the issue.

Sayeed had stoked a controversy with his remarks that Pakistan and militants had facilitated the smooth assembly elections in the state.

Sayeed had taken oath as chief minister on Sunday at the head of government which has his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as partners. Modi had attended the oath-taking ceremony.

Modi said the government had zero tolerance policy towards terrorism and was committed to preserve unity of the country.

"I want to tell people of the country that the government in Jammu and Kashmir has been formed on the CMP and will run on the CMP," he said.

Modi once again greeted the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the high voter turnout in the assembly polls.

He said the people had put their stamp on what "India has been saying for years" about the election process in Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi also said the government will follow the resolution adopted by parliament concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

The resolution said the state was an integral part of India, and Pakistan must vacate the areas of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, which it has occupied through aggression. - IANS