Srinagar May 16 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday welcomed the Centre s announcement of a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan.
"I wholeheartedly welcome the Ramadan ceasefire. The month is a harbinger of peace and such a decision will go a long way in creating a peaceful and amicable environment for a sustained dialogue " she tweeted.
The Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh for their intervention.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the unilateral ceasefire followed a demand from all political parties except the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"Now if the militants don t respond in kind they will stand exposed as the true enemies of the people " the National Conference leader tweeted.
He said this would be called a non-initiation of combat operations. "It s what they called it during the Vajpayee-Advani era as well but it s still a unilateral ceasefire. A rose by any other name..."
The central government announced on Wednesday a ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir during Ramadan saying this was necessary to help "peace loving Muslims" observe the holy month in a peaceful environment.

--IANS ahm/mr