New Delhi: Ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti today (Mar 13, 2004) accused the Centre of not showing confidence in the elected legislators of Jammu and Kashmir during the recent controversy over the Bill disqualifying women marrying outsiders from being permanent residents.

"The Bill, which was passed unanimously by all legislators in the Assembly, failed to get through in the Council. Why?" she asked.

"When everyone is taking credit for holding free and fair elections in the State, what happened now? Why has the panic button been pressed by some quarters in the Centre? Is it not amounting to casting doubts over the integrity of legislators?" a visibly annoyed Mehbooba said while replying to questions at the 'India Today' conclave.

She said the Bill had been subjected to a malicious propaganda by some "vested interests".

During her speech, she said that her Government was committed to bringing Kashmiri Pundits back to the valley. "They will not be forced to live in secured locations but in their homes," she said during a debate on "Politics: The Vision of Generation Next".

Mehbooba emphasised that certain laws like the recent anti-defection law was needed to get the next generation attracted towards politics.