Mehbooba defends father, calls for peace in J-K

"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 told the media here.

The PDP chief further said that any talks that might occur with separatists must take place within the frameworks of democracy.

"In the assembly elections, the violence was much less as compared to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. There were fewer instances of stone pelting and this resulted in a much larger turnout during the assembly polls. We felt that the separatists and Pakistani elements have also understood that democracy is the only way out. Any issue that needs to be resolved, will be resolved only within the frameworks of democracy," she said.

"We are looking at how we can increase the stakes of the people in the democratic process and bring peace in Jammu and Kashmir," she added.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who has been a vocal critic of Sayeed's remark, took yet another jibe at the PDP-BJP alliance on twitter.

"Has Mufti decided the Modi-Mufti accord was a mistake? Are the Father-Daughter duo trying to force BJP to break off the alliance? #wondering," he posted.

The opposition parties have strongly criticized the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister's remark crediting Pakistan for peaceful elections in the state and have demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response on the issue.