Great Indian democracy provides freedom: Mehbooba

In a message to separatists, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today asserted that nothing would be achieved by terrorism and that the "great" Indian democracy provides freedom to make choices unlike countries where democracy ceased to exist.
She told the Assembly that for development and progress of Jammu and Kashmir, peace and reconciliation between India and Pakistan is a must and that the main agenda of her government is to encourage this.
Referring to last week's terror attack on CRPF convoy in Pampore in which eight security personnel were killed and 21 injured, she said "such senseless acts of violence" amount to "showing contempt to this Holy month" of Ramdhan.

Such acts send a wrong signal about the situation which can have grave consequences on the overall economy of the state, Mehbooba said on the last day of the Budget session.
"These attacks have not yielded anything in past, despite so much bloodshed, and they will not yield anything in future. They only bring bad name to Kashmir. The month of Ramadhan calls for self-control and restraint. By indulging in such senseless acts of violence, you are showing contempt to this Holy month," she said.
"Whether a CRPF man dies, a civilian is injured or a militant gets killed, it only perpetuates pain and suffering on the families and in the society," she said.

Lauding the Parliamentary system of democracy in India, she recalled the words of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfkar Ali Bhutto that if India is thriving, despite its inherent contradictions and challenges, it is because of its democratic traditions.

"Now see what is happening in countries where democracy has ceased to exist. Full-blown wars are going on in Syria and Libya. The blood of innocents is being spilled. Although people in these countries are free as individuals, they don't have the freedom to make choices for themselves.
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Hitting out former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his remarks that Mehbooba Mufti is running her government on the doctorine of NSA Ajit Doval, she said "I act on Mufti doctrine. We all act on that doctrine. I don't believe in Dulat or Doval doctrine. If Dulat sahib or Doval sahib will help us to implement our doctrine, I will salute them".

Asserting that Agenda of Alliance (AoA) is the best document, the CM said "We have 28 seats and BJP has 25 seats. Since 1947, such a document has not been framed which has not only been debated and discussed at the state level but as well as at the Parliament level".
"When you ask questions, we become accountable in continuing this document forward", she said.
Referring to a member's speech, she said "all the political parties in Delhi do not understand that there is a document as on date which has a consensus (on J&K)".
"If they do not act on it, then it will not only be discrimination with our party or this House, but not only in Jammu and Kashmir, but it will be discrimination with entire country because the consequences of not acting on it, will be most unfavourable (na pasandida)".

Hitting out at opposition on AoA, she said "when we entered into alliance with Congress and formed the previous government, the then opposition had also called the AoA as a bunch of papers".
"But when we acted on that and situation began to change they could realize the power of AoA", she said.
Terming peace as pre-requisite for development of the state, she said "we need to create an atmosphere in which we have to strengthen peace and maintain law and order. There is pre-requisite to make such an environment".
Patting members for highlighting the issue of peace and reconciliation, she said "we hope that the situation improves and conducive atmosphere is created because whenever the situation turns bad, the state gets affected. Our children mostly students are in most difficult state".