Mufti Modi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi.Twitter/PMO India

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday, May 6, said that if anyone could save the state — from the ongoing turmoil exacerbated by terrorist intervention from Pakistani soil — it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Unrest in J&K

There has been an uptick in terrorist activities in J&K in recent times. Besides infiltration attempts by terrorists and ceasefire violation by Pakistan, the state has also seen resurgence in stone-pelting activities, incidents of weapon-snatching and bank robberies. In fact, the last of these has led the state government to even order 40 branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank to go cashless!

The worsening situation in the state, as was the case during the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-elections, has seen several deaths and led to widespread outrage. It has also led to more unrest in the state, forcing the Election Commission to first postpone the Anantnag Lok Sabha byelection from April 12 to May 25, and then pushing it back further indefinitely.

Faith in PM Modi

It is in the backdrop of this unrest that Mehbooba — whose PDP rules J&K in a coalition government with the BJP — said: "Humein daldal se koi agar bahar nikal sakta hai toh, woh PM Modi hain. Woh jo faisla karenge mulk support karega." Translation: "If someone can extricate us [Kashmir] from this muck, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The nation will support whatever decision he takes."

An Indian army soldier keeps guard from a bunker near the border with Pakistan
An Indian Army soldier keeps guard from a bunker near the border with Pakistan.Reuters File Photo

She added: "Earlier prime ministers also wanted to go to Pakistan, but it was Modi who went to Lahore. This is a sign of his strength." She was referring to the visit by Modi wherein he wished his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif a happy birthday. 

J&K Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh also spoke on the occasion, highlighting the issue of development. He said: "Our focus [on development] has not changed. We are facing challenges not because of the coalition government but because of the situation in Kashmir that has been existing for a long time."