Mufti thanks Pakistan, Militants for peaceful polls in J&K

Jammu, Mar 1 (KMW): Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed courted controversy hours after taking oath today, saying the Hurriyat, militant outfits and “people from across the border” – construed as an oblique reference to Pakistan — allowed conducive atmosphere for assembly polls.
It drew a sharp reaction from National Conference Chief Omar Abdullah, who demanded that BJP, partner in the ruling coalition, clarify its stand.
“I want to say on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister, that we must credit the Hurriyat, Pakistan and militant outfits for the conduct of assembly elections in the state,” Mr Sayeed said at a media conference after the ceremony, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Flanked by deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh of BJP and cabinet minister Haseeb Drabu, Mr Sayeed said, “God forbid if they (militants) would have done something. It would not have been possible to have smooth conduct of the elections.”
Thanking the “people from across the border”, he said, “People from across the border made the atmosphere conducive. They also have assets — Hurriyat, militants… if they had done something (during the election) such a participation of people was not possible. This gives us hope.”