Attempts to create walls of hate defeated: J&K CM

Jammu: In an apparent reference to the beef controversy, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Friday said attempts were made to vitiate the atmosphere in the state and "erect walls of hate" between Kashmir and Jammu regions which the people of the state had thwarted.

He also appreciated opposition leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for bringing a peace resolution in the Assembly during the recent session, which was intended to send a message that people of Jammu and Kashmir want to co-exist as per the secular ethos of the country.

"Attempts were made to vitiate the atmosphere in the state. The attempts to erect walls of hate (between Kashmir and Jammu) were made. However, the people of the state thwarted such designs," he said at a function, in an apparent reference to the beef controversy.

The controversy erupted in the run up to Eid-ul Azha after the High Court ordered implementation of an old law banning sale and consumption of beef in the state. To add to the row, Independent MLA Engineer Rashid hosted a beef party in Srinagar, triggering angry protests in Jammu region.

Crediting the people of Jammu for showing maturity and helping erase the "walls of hate" that were being created between the two regions, Sayeed said, "The business fraternity of both the regions united and said that they were inter dependent on each other so they came forward to show unity."

"My dream is to dismantle the walls of hate that exists," the Chief Minister said.

He was speaking at a function to inaugurate the recently upgraded 18-hole golf course on the outskirts of Jammu city.

Appreciating Omar Abdullah, Sayeed said, "Opposition leader Omar Abdullah brought a peace resolution in the Assembly during the recent session which was unanimously passed by the House to send a message to the rest of the country that people of the state wanted peace and were peace loving people who wanted to live as per the secular ethos of the country."