Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today that she has faith in institutions of the country and expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will dismiss a petition that challenges Article 35A of the Constitution

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday made a passionate plea to the young in the Valley to shun guns and stones and also vowed to continue to fight for the state's special Constitutional status

Mehbooba Mutfi, who arrived here on Thursday, met PM Modi in the backdrop of a raging debate over the continuity of articles 370 and 35(A) of the Constitution that give Jammu and Kashmir its special status.

Mehbooba is keen to build consensus against scrapping the Constitutional provision, which empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define the state's "permanent residents" and their special rights and privileges, they said.

National Conference has advised the government to seek the help of its ally BJP and the Centre in Article 35A case.

Article 35-A of the Constitution empowers the state's legislature to define its "permanent residents" and accord special rights and privileges to them.

Omar did not elaborate on the issues discussed by Mehbooba and Abdullah, who is a Lok Sabha member from Srinagar constituency.

The Congress today asked the BJP to make its stand clear on the remarks by its ally and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on separatists' arrest.

Terming Mehbooba Mufti's statement as shocking and ridiculous, Jitendra Singh said, "Jammu and Kashmir is as much part of India as any other state of India. That is also the official stand."

Mehbooba Mufti said trade with Pakistan needs to be strengthened and not stopped to bridge distances between the two neighbouring countries.

Mufti said Jammu and Kashmir, defying the two-nation theory that was based on religious divide, had aligned to a more secular and accommodative India where Hindus and Muslims pray together

The Chief Minister said while on the one hand efforts are afoot for resolving the Kashmir issue within the framework of Constitution, on the other hand, "we flog it".

Farooq Abdullah was reacting to reports that the Mehbooba government was unhappy over NIA’s crackdown against separatists and had even tried blocking their transportation from Srinagar airport to Delhi earlier this week.

Mufti was responding to Abdullah who had yesterday suggested third party mediation to resolve the Kashmir issue, saying “India should take the help of friends" to find a permanent solution to the Kashmir dispute.

After Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also raised concerns over China with the Centre, accusing the neighbouring country of interfering in the state

Earlier this week, China, the all-weather ally of Pakistan, had said that it was ‘willing to play a constructive role in improving relations between India and Pakistan’.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said people of the valley have to fight the life of fear and the situation held "hostage by some forces", and make efforts for establishing a prosperous state

Mehbooba pointed out that the Kashmiri people condemned the terror attack despite the atmosphere of fear and terror that has been created in the state by the militancy.

Promising stern action against the culprits, the Chief Minister added that the administration will not keep quiet till the perpetrators of the heinous crime are arrested.

Mehbooba thanked the President and the Prime Minister for safeguarding the aspiration of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and caring for their sensitivities.