Jammu, Aug. 12 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo on Monday forwarded his resignation to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, after the opposition led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioned his role in the Kishtwar violence and said that he would not continue as a Minister till the judicial enquiry ordered by the state government is complete.
"My conscience does not allow me to continue as a minister till the probe findings. I discussed the call of my conscience with my party colleagues and I have decided to proceed from the party headquarter to the Chief Minister to tender my resignation so that my presence does not cast a show on the independent probe," he told media here today.
Kichloo also criticized the political parties, which accused him for the Kishtwar violence and said that they are trying to malign his name.
"Certain unfortunate incidents happened in Kishtwar, which I condemn. Certain political parties are trying to malign my name by blaming me for the incidents that happened on Eid. I m innocent and I have done no wrong," he said.
"My conscience is clear, my electorate of Kishtwar vote for my secular credentials and I am deeply hurt that for petty political angst, some people are accusing me of something I have not done," he added.
He further attacked BJP leader Arun Jaitley and asked whether Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi resigned after the Godhra riots.
"I take strong objection to what Jaitley has said. Did Modi resign after Godhra? What happened to Amit Shah, who is now star campaigner of BJP in Uttar Pradesh? Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones on others. I want the truth to come out," he said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday confirmed on Twitter that he has forwarded the resignation of the state Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo to the Governor with the recommendation that it be accepted.
Earlier in the day, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha: "The state of Jammu and Kashmir is not a personal property of one family. It is an integral part of India and you will have to decide how it will be governed. The whole incident requires to be investigated. This is not an inter-community disturbance."
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday criticized the Omar Abdullah Government, and alleged that it appears as if the ruling National Conference has a lot to hide.
"A lot of questions are being raised about the local MLA of National Conference who is also Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kichloo as to how he provoked the entire situation. After all, we all want there should be calm, there should be communal amity and palpably it is evident that the government of Omar Abdullah has not taken adequate measures as were required to be taken," he said.
Kishtwar remained curfew-bound on Sunday for the third consecutive day after communal violence broke out in the city on August 9.
Curfew was clamped in three more districts of Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in Jammu region and Army staged flag marches as tension prevailed following outbreak of communal violence in Kishtwar. (ANI)
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