Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti addressing the budget session in Assembly, in Srinagar on Saturday. (PTI Photo)
In her first speech in the state assembly as Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti said the overwhelming mandate in favour of the BJP in Jammu could not have been ignored and that is why her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed formed an alliance with the BJP.
She said: "Mufti believed in the idea of India - Jammu and Kashmir need to bridge their differences - Mufti wanted good relations with Pakistan," Mehbooba Mufti said.
Ms Mufti said that she will get Kashmiri pandits back so that they can live together with the people here.
Clarifying over the issue of sainik colony, Ms Mufti said that any proposed sainik colony in Kashmir will be made only for the people of the state and not for non-state subjects and no land has so far been identified for such a colony.
She said the Centre has given a go ahead for making Jammu and Srinagar smart cities and orders have been passed for the establishment of two AIIMS, one each in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We have got orders for smart cities for both Jammu and Srinagar as well as AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir regions."
However, leader of opposition and former chief minister Omar Abdullah was quick to interject and point out that the proposal for smart cities has not been finalised yet.
"We have not been given two smart cities, but we have been put in the list of cities in competition for smart cities," Omar said.