Srinagar: During an informal interaction with journalists on Sunday, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed revealed his lighter side as he spoke about movie theatres, Press Club and his “cells”.
Known to be a ‘serious politician’, Sayeed was at his wittiest in public life and had the scribes in splits while he answered ‘serious questions’.
In response to a question, the Chief Minister said “my cells are agile and working”.
“These cells prove faulty,” he said when asked if he would constitute a special cell for getting suggestions on how to improve functioning of his government.
Sayeed, a veteran politician whose political career spans nearly six decades, is known to keep in touch with grass root level workers to get the feel of people’s pulse on various issues.
A video journalist told the Chief Minister that they were not allowed to enter certain places with their cameras.
Sayeed quipped: “Have you forgotten Ahmad Shah Masood? He was asked to give interview and then the camera took off and bumped him off.”
On the serious note, Sayeed said he has given instructions to his security to behave well with everyone, including journalists, who try to meet him.
When asked about the possibility of reopening of movie theatres in Kashmir, he asked the editor “this will be another (controversial news). Move to the next question”.
Cinema theatres were closed in Kashmir in 1989 following eruption of militancy and the militants have in the past scuttled any efforts to reopen these entertainment avenues.
In response to a question about the performance of his government, Sayeed said “What do you expect in just two months? One month went into North Pole-South Pole (referring to controversies over including the release followed by re-arrest of Masarat Alam).”
Sayeed, soon after entering into alliance with BJP, had termed the coalition as meeting of the two poles. The Chief Minister made a promise to the Srinagar-based journalists too.
“I am ready to have a Press Club in Srinagar. I do not know if you are ready for that,” he said.
Sayeed had promised to establish a Press Club here in his first term but the proposal was opposed by few scribes. (PTI)