Mehbooba denounces call for separate state for Muslims

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti today denounced a demand to have a separate state for Muslims, in an apparent reference to a top cleric's suggestion made yesterday.

"J&K was neither a party to the partition of our country nor did we support division on religious lines. We as a state opted for the opposite, but unfortunately are still paying the price. I strongly condemn any statement made asking for Muslims in India to demand a separate state," the chief minister posted on Twitter, though she did not name anyone.

Yesterday, the deputy grand mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Nasir-ul-Islam, had alleged that Muslims in the country were living a "pathetic" life and they should demand a separate state within India.

"Muslims are being harassed under various pretexts such as love jihad and cow vigilantism...They are being targeted.
"If it continues like this, then they should demand a separate country within India," the cleric had told reporters.