KL Report
SRINAGAR
After being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed invited all parties including the Congress as well as the separatists to contribute their views in running an atmosphere of peace in his state.
“I say let’s take separatists on board too, they also have a view point,” he said while talking to media.
Mufti said he wants the Indian government to start a dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Kashmir has been a problem for every PM since 1947. I told the PM that we should be friends with Pakistan,” he said.
Mufti said that peace was must to yield development.
“To make Jammu and Kashmir a model of development like Gujarat, peace is a pre-requisite,” Mufti said while addressing media after he took the oath of office at Jammu University’s General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said he has no inclination to focus on past and wants to look forward.
“I don’t want to dig the past or criticise any party, I only want to look into the future. I want to join the North Pole and the South Pole. We have got the mandate to get people together,” he said.
“We want to make this alliance a turning point in trying to meet the hearts and minds of the people,” Mufti said while speaking about the alliance with the BJP.
“We have a historic opportunity today, we want a new chapter for Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Speaking on some developments he wants to make, the new CM said, “Unemployment is the main challenge. We want to create people employers here.”
“We want to be fair and have a transparent system,” he said.
On being asked about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) issues, he said, “Not disappointed on AFSPA issue. Are you interested in peace or withdrawal of AFSPA?”
