Narendra Modi is not 'intolerant' but 'all inclusive': Mufti Sayeed

Srinagar: Amid the raging debate on 'intolerance', Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Tuesday came out in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is "not at all intolerant" but "all inclusive".

He also batted for dialogue with Pakistan and wanted the Prime Minister to break the ice during his upcoming visit here on November 7 like Atal Bihari Vajpayee launched the peace process in 2003 from the soil of Kashmir.

"He (Modi) is not at all intolerant... He has tied up with Mufti Sayeed... I have only three (Lok Sabha) seats. He is the elected Prime Minister of the country, elected by 1.2 billion people. He must be having some vision to join hands with me. He knows what for I stand," Sayeed, who is the leader of PDP, told reporters.

To a question on Dadri lynching incident, he said, "There have been ups and downs but he (Modi) is all inclusive."

His defence of Modi comes amidst intense attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, with opposition alleging that there is "growing intolerance" in the country.

On Modi's visit to the state, Sayeed said, "The Prime Minister is coming. He will have something to say. The Prime Minister's visit is long overdue."

He said Modi is focussed on development of Jammu and Kashmir and the state government is working in this direction. "Work is going on fast track. You can see the road work is going good. He (Modi) sent the Railway Minister here (last year)," the Chief Minister said.

On the possibility of the Prime Minister announcing a package for victims of last year's floods, Sayeed evaded a direct reply, saying "it is upto him."

Referring to India-Pakistan ties, the Chief Minister batted for resumption of dialogue amid his feeling that the Modi government wants good ties with the neighbouring country.

"If India has to become a big power, it is necessary that we have good relations with the neighbouring countries. There have been some ups and downs in between but my feeling is that they (Centre) would want to have good relations with Pakistan," Sayeed said on the sidelines of a function.

He said a breakthrough can only be achieved through a peace process as confrontation between the two countries has resolved nothing in the past 68 years.

"It is important to keep (good) relations with Pakistan. It is in the interest of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire country. We have seen from 1947 till now that confrontation does not resolve anything. The breakthrough that took place at the time of (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee, he started the peace process from here," said Sayeed, who was Chief Minister then also.