Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed said that it is important for Jammu Kashmir and for India to have good relations with Pakistan.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed spoke out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar today, asserting he is inclusive and not intolerant. In the same breath, Mr Sayeed said he expects the Prime Minister to do an Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reach out to Pakistan.
The Prime minister is not communal, said chief of the ruling People's Democratic Party. "He (PM Modi) is not intolerant, he made (a) coalition with Mufti, who has just three members (of Parliament). He is the prime minister of the country, elected leader of 120 crore (plus) people. He joined (hands) with me, that means he has a vision", Mr Sayeed said.
Mr Mufti said incidents like the Dadri (mob lynching case) are aberrations.
Mr Sayeed's remarks come at a time when the PM Modi, who is scheduled to hold a rally in Srinagar on November 7, is facing sharp criticism on perceived intolerance under his regime.
The chief minister said he hopes that the focus of the prime minister's visit would be all round developmental of the state but the significant political message could be reaching out to Pakistan on the pattern of Mr Vajpayee's Kashmir rally of 2003.
Mr Vajpayee had extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan from Srinagar, he said. "It is important for Jammu Kashmir and for India to have good relations with Pakistan. Confrontation won't help... Prime Minister Modi would like to have good relations with Pakistan," Mr Sayeed said.
Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the chief minister said the former prime minister's approach towards Pakistan is what PM Modi needs to take forward. India needs good relations with Pakistan, he said. Mr Sayeed's remarks today could set the tone for the meeting between the two allies.