Opposition furore in Rajya Sabha over Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's statement on J&K polls

NEW DELHI: Opposition in Rajya Sabha today created a furore over Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's statement crediting Pakistan and Hurriyat for the smooth assembly polls, with the Centre jumping to do damage control by saying security forces and the people were responsible for the peaceful polls.

Congress calling Sayeed's statement "anti-national", Shantaram Naik (Cong) said immediately after being sworn-in, Chief addressed a press conference where he credited "people from across the border", separatist Hurriyat Conference and militants for the peaceful assembly elections.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Naik said "this statement is bordering anti-national... this is violative of oath of office as he is showing allegiance to forces which are anti-national".

The people of Jammu & Kashmir, Election Commission and security forces made the elections possible and Sayeed did not give credit to them, he said.

Among the 24 ministers sworn-in, one of them's brother is in Hurriyat and has a Pakistani wife, he alleged.

He said Modi had during the election campaign called for discussion on Article 370 and quoted the Prime Minister as having said then "Kam se kam charcha to karo (at least discuss the issue)" but is now evading it.

Responding to the attack, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the credit for peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections in May last year and then the assembly polls "goes to the wonderful people of Jammu and Kashmir, Leh and Kargil, the Election Commission and security forces."

The enthusiastic participation of the people in these elections as well as the security forces and the poll panel "are responsible for the peaceful conduct of elections. We congratulate them", he said.