Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said that there were less than a dozen political prisoners in various jails in or outside the state.
"There are not many (political prisoners). You just create this. They are not in numbers. They are not even a dozen," Sayeed told reporters here.
The Chief minister was responding to a question on his government's promise of releasing political prisoners.
In its Common Minimum Program - 'Agenda for Alliance', the PDP and BJP coalition government had asserted that a process would be started to release political prisoners lodged in different jails.
Referring to the earthquake in Nepal, Sayeed said two people from the state have lost their life in the natural disaster there.
"According to the reports till now, two people from the state have lost their life. They are from Jammu. We are in touch with the families (of those who are missing). We are monitoring the situation," he said.
On the reports about experts warning of a high magnitude earthquake in Kashmir, the chief minister said "God forbid, such a thing will not happen here. Do not give a bad omen to us. We have already suffered due to floods (last year)".
Sayeed said the previous government in the state had left a deficit of Rs 9000 crore and it was a challenge to confront it.
"They have left a deficit of around Rs 9000 crore and there was no proper implementation of any scheme. But I do not want to dig the past... This is a challenge in front of me and I will take on it with full confidence," he said.
The chief minister was here to inspect the site for a multi-storey parking facility.
