Great Indian democracy provides freedom: Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: In a message to separatists, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asserted that nothing would be achieved by terrorism and that the "great" Indian democracy provides freedom to make choices unlike countries where democracy ceased to exist.

She told the Assembly is that for development and progress of Jammu and Kashmir, peace and reconciliation between India and Pakistan is a must and that the main agenda of her government is to encourage this.

Referring to last week's terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pampore in which eight security personnel were killed and 21 injured, she said "such senseless acts of violence" amount to "showing contempt to this Holy month" of Ramdhan.

Such acts send a wrong signal about the situation which can have grave consequences on the overall economy of the state, Mehbooba said on the last day of the Budget session.

"These attacks have not yielded anything in past, despite so much bloodshed, and they will not yield anything in future. They only bring bad name to Kashmir. The month of Ramadhan calls for self-control and restraint. By indulging in such senseless acts of violence, you are showing contempt to this Holy month," she said.

"Whether a CRPF man dies, a civilian is injured or a militant gets killed, it only perpetuates pain and suffering on the families and in the society," she said.

Lauding the Parliamentary system of democracy in India, she recalled the words of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfkar Ali Bhutto that if India is thriving, despite its inherent contradictions and challenges, it is because of its democratic traditions.

"Now see what is happening in countries where democracy has ceased to exist. Full-blown wars are going on in Syria and Libya. The blood of innocents is being spilled. Although people in these countries are free as individuals, they don't have the freedom to make choices for themselves.

"In a true democracy, individuals should get that right to decide his or her future which is what makes India such a great country," she said.