Mufti's separatist statement: BJP 'fully disassociates', says Rajnath Singh

New Delhi: Distancing the party from Jammu and Kashmir's newly elected CM Mufti Mohd Sayeed's statement crediting separatists for allowing conducive atmosphere for assembly polls, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the BJP fully disassociates itself from Sayeed's remark.

Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Singh said, “I am making this statement after discussion with and consent of the Prime Minister...We disassociate ourselves from the comment made by Mufti Mohd Sayeed.”

The Home Minister said, “The elections were held in conducive atmosphere and I want to congratulate people of Jammu and Kashmir...and the conducive atmosphere was due to the Election Commission and the security forces.”

Rejecting the government's statement, the opposition demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should make a statement in the Parliament condemning Sayeed. Congress MPs later staged a walk out over the issue.

Sayeed triggered a controversy, Sunday, by saying that credit must be given to "people from across the border", an oblique reference to Pakistan, Hurriyat and militant outfits for allowing conducive atmosphere for assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference after being sworn in at a ceremony which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sayeed said, "I want to say this on record and I have told this to the Prime Minister that the we must credit the Hurriyat, militant outfits for the conduct of assembly elections in the state,"

Flanked by deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh of BJP and newly inducted cabinet minister Haseeb Drabu, Sayeed said, "People from across the border allowed conducive atmosphere during elections. My humble submission is peaceful elections were not possible, if they had done something. You know how small action was needed to disturb the elections. They allowed this democratic process to go ahead. This gives us a hope."