Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah on October 8 said the participation of people of Jammu and Kashmir in Assembly elections is a "befitting reply" to Pakistan, which was desperate to destabilise democracy in India.

"The impressive turnout in most of the state has reaffirmed the faith of the people in democracy and has given a befitting reply to Pakistan which has never believed in democracy.

"Pakistan is not able to create democratic conditions in that country and so is desperate to destabilise the democracy in India," Abdullah said in a statement in Srinagar.

The world community must read the mood of the people of the state who have voted against the reign of terrorism unleashed by Pakistan and must take effective steps to stop terrorism sponsored by it, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said.

Thanking people of the state for enthusiastically participating in the electoral process despite pressures, threats and coercion aimed at subverting the democratic process, Abdullah said Pakistan should take a lesson from India and combat its failures to put in place a credible democratic process.

PTI