NC, PDP displeased with SC's remark

The ruling National Conference (NC) as well as Opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday expressed displeasure over the Supreme Court's observation. Former chief minister of J&K and president of NC, Farooq Abdullah, said terrorist attacks happen because of the strained relations with Pakistan and they have nothing to do with the restoration of statehood.

"Such attacks would happen even when J&K was a state and nobody undermined it even then. Statehood is not responsible for such things (attacks). They will happen. Our relations with our neighbour are not good and they come from there," said Abdullah. "So, arguing that statehood cannot be restored because Pahalgam happened is wrong."

Another former CM and president of PDP, Mehbooba Mufti, said the Supreme Court's reference to the Pahalgam terrorist attack underscored a deeper issue about the Centre's continued lack of confidence in the region's stability.