Media making mountain of a molehill; I stand by my comments: Mufti Sayeed

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday lambasted the media for the ongoing controversy surrounding his remark crediting Pakistan for peaceful elections in the state and said that he stands by his comment.

"The media did not talk about all the positive things I said but instead made a mountain of a molehill out of my statement. I also talked about the kind of democratic rights and freedom that Jammu and Kashmir has within the Constitution of India," said Sayeed.

"Pakistan, Hurriyat recognised the institution of democracy in India, they did not interfere as they used to. What I have said, I have said, will stand by that," he added.

Earlier in the day, People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti defended her father's statement and called for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Mufti saab considers the entire populace of the state. There is no need to put people in jail, no need to bash each other up. Our agenda of alliance (with the Bharatiya Janata Party) has clearly listed how peace can be achieved in Jammu and Kashmir, with whom we can engage and hold dialogues and how we can bring forward former prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee's agenda for peace," Mehbooba said.

The opposition parties have strongly criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's remark and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the issue.