Jammu, June 15 (IANS) Separatism and communalism are two faces of the same coin, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on Wednesday.
Addressing students and teachers at the Jammu University here, she said: "To me, separatism and communalism are the two faces of the same coin because they divide the region, the society and finally the country."
Noting universities are the nurseries for leaders of tomorrow, she also said: "But, at the same time, we have to understand that our values must come from the society and for that, Jammu is the most secular place in our state."
"Right from the beginning my father (late Chief Minister) Mufti Muhammad Sayeed) won elections from R.S.Pura in Jammu," she noted, adding that "during militancy, the people of Jammu received both Pandits and Muslims with open arms".
The chief minister stressed that students must "mould themselves in such a way" as to defeat forces those are bent upon dividing the country.
"Students have a right and are welcome to political activity, but that activity must not be allowed to be hijacked by divisive forces. Students have a duty to mould themselves in such a way so that divisive forces are defeated."
