Modi not authoritative, is open to ideas: Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba talked about the issues that Jammu and Kashmir faces and she invited businessmen and investors to come with their families to the state and invest.

Mumbai, March 17: Democracy is about sharing and caring and there is a need to reach out to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, said Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. She said that PM Modi is trying to evolve the country as a true federal structure and that he is open to ideas.

She said, "I have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few times and I have found that he is open to ideas. He is not authoritative." She was speaking at the India Today Conclave 2017 on Friday.

Mufti talked about the issues that Jammu and Kashmir faces and invited businessmen and investors to come with their families to the state and invest. She added that despite encounters, J&K is one of the safest states for women. She said that being a border state they are given a special treatment and asked what was wrong if the state got special treatment as they are the victims as well.

She was of the opinion that, "The Centre and the state government both need to think about phasing out AFSPA from the Kashmir valley." Sharing her views on how political landscape has changed in India she said, "The political landscape is going to change, it can't be ignored. Regional parties are going to stay; they can't be ignored. People like Mayawati are gone but not out."

Not the one to mince words, Mehbooba was prompt to say that personally she doesn't like Jallikattu but would not take it away from the people of Tamil Nadu to go ahead with it as it is something that is what they identify with just the way people of Kashmir are keen to keep Article 370. She categorically said, "The self-respect of states has to be honoured."

When asked which is her favourite tourist destination outside Jammu and Kashmir she said Pahalgamm, and agreed that 'once a Kashmiri always a Kashmiri'.

OneIndia News