Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday while accusing the state Congress of raking up the issue of Hindu CM for Jammu and Kashmir stated that the party upholds the principle and ideology of secularism and harmony."There are certain parties which are trying to forge an alliance with communal elements and want to impose Hindu Chief Minister here. But let me make it clear that Jammu and Kashmir is a Muslim-majority state and can be ruled by a Muslim Chief Minister only," said Peerzada Mansoor, MLA from South Kashmir’s Shangus assembly segment.Mansoor only reacted to the debate that has earlier been sparked by the Congress here that raised demand for the Hindu CM, said Naeem Akhtar, chieF spokesman PDP. ]
"Kashmir is conflict zone and also a sensitive place and if a Hindu Chief Minister is installed, it would have a bearing on its political landscape and other issues may crop up," Masoor had said earlier on Wednesday.PDP chief spokesman added that the party believes in the principles of secularism and the people of the state do not need a certificate from any person vis-à-vis the secular credentials. “Kashmir is known in the world about the religious tolerance and harmony. The people here do not need any certificate from anyone over the issue.” PDP maintained further that the party is fighting the coming assembly elections not on the basis of religion but on agenda, credibility and road map vis-à-vis the prosperous future for the ‘troubled’ Jammu and Kashmir. “PDP not at all believes that religion is the deciding factor for any person in the state to become the chief minister,” he said.
Congress minister Sham Lal on August 26 raised the pitch for a Hindu Chief Minister in the State. “If Ghani Khan Choudhary could become Chief Minister of Hindu majority West Bengal and Abdul Rehman Antuley of Maharashtra where Muslim population is merely two percent, why can’t a Hindu lead the Jammu Kashmir and become a CM here,” he said amidst thunderous applause by the Youth Congress workers during a Sadhbhavana rally on birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Akhnoor townOver the recent poll survey conducted by New Delhi based news channel wherein PDP is projected to win 27 to 33 seats in a House of 87 to emerge as the single largest party. Akhtar said that the party expects more than what has been projected in the report. (KNS)