Srinagar, Apr 18 (IANS): Former state chief ministers, Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, on Thursday criticised the Ministry of Home Affairs' decision to suspend cross-LoC trade in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MHA said on Thursday that following reports of weapons, hawala money and narcotics being routed into the state through cross LoC, it has been decided to suspend the trade.

Mehbooba Mufti said on her twitter page, "Using Kashmir as a scapegoat to claw its way back to power won't help BJP. It's an excuse to worsen ties with Pak despite their peace overtures. By doing this, PM Modi has dismantled a CBM initiated by Vajpayee ji. Won't be surprised if an attack on Pak is in the offing".

In his reaction, Omar Abdullah said on his twitter page, "The Modi Govt buries another of the Vajpayee era CBM. Cross-LoC trade was a legacy of the Vajpayee Govt to facilitate greater people-to-people contact across the Line of Control in J&K".

In its order today, MHA has said till a "stricter regulatory mechanism is put in place, the cross LoC trade would remain suspended".