Pak, Hurriyat, allowed conducive atmosphere for polls: Mufti

In his maiden press conference after being sworn in as the head of the PDP-BJP government, he said, "I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister that the we must also credit the Hurriyat and militant outfits for the conduct of the Assembly elections in the state"

Sided by deputy chief minister Dr Nirmal Singh of BJP and PDP's Dr Haseeb Drabu, Sayeed said, "God forbid if they (militants) would have
done something. It would not have been possible to conduct smooth elections here."

"You all know what it required to disturb the peace," he added.

"People from across the border made the atmosphere conducive. They also allowed the democratic process to continue in the state. This
gives us a hope," he said in a veiled reference to Pakistan.

While giving credit to people, Mufti said he felt proud that the people in the heart of Srinagar city came out in large numbers
to vote in the polls last year.

Mufti while talking about the security scenario in state said that as the 'head of unified command he knows his job well'.

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah attacked him over his remarks and tweeted: "'Pakistan, Huriyaat & Militants ALLOWED peaceful conduct of elections' says Mufti Syed. I guess we should be grateful for their generosity."

"Dear @BJP4India please explain roll of security forces & polling staff considering your CM just said 'Pakistan allowed elections in J&K'," he said.

Amid a historic political alliance between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former's supremo Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took oath as the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday at a special ceremony in the presence of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.

BJP's Nirmal Singh took oath as the state's Deputy Chief Minister.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)

(Image credit: State  Information Department)