Kishtwar riots: JK Home Minister Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo resigns

Amidst attack by all political parties in the Parliament over the violence in Kishtwar, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, J&K Minister of State Home said, “I have decided to proceed to tender my resignation to the Honourable Chief Minister on Kishtwar violence.”

Acknowledging the same, Omar Abdullah in a tweet said, “I have received Sajaad Kitchloo’s resignation asking to be relieved of his responsibilities pending the outcome of the judicial inquiry. I am forwarding the same to the Honorable Governor with the recommendation that it be accepted.”

BJP charged the Jammu and Kashmir government with playing politics on the Kishtwar riots and cautioned that this was another Pakistan design in which separatist forces were involved.

Hitting out at the government, Arun Jaitley, Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha said, “The entire police was a mute spectator. There are reports that a senior functionary of government was involved.” “Until army was in place, there was mayhem in Kishtwar. There is mayhem in all areas around Kishtwar,” he said.

While calling his detention at the Jammu airport an issue of secondary importance, Jaitley said, “You are putting in place a system in J&K like in 1990. As if anybody going there only has intention of causing disturbance.”

“What do we do in situations like this? Do we enforce censorship? Do we have an ostrich like approach?,” he questioned. “Jammu an Kashmir is not the private property of one family. Even media has kept a stunning silence. It requires investigation,” he said.

Stating that the situation should have been brought under control immediately, Jaitley said, “It was only after 6-7 hours that the army was actually moved in, till then there was murder & mayhem in Kishtwar.”

Addressing the Parliament, BSP supremo Mayawati said that the Omar Abdullah government has failed in handling the Kishtwar violence. “The state’s home minister should have ensured law and order in Kishtwar,” she said. “An FIR should be registered against those responsible and should be jailed,” she added.

“If there is no proper probe, J&K govt should be dismissed,” she demanded. Mayawati also expressed grief over the recent killing of Indian army personnel by Pakistan’s army.

The Centre said it is seeking a report from the Jammu and Kashmir government on the incidents of violence in Kishtwar and adjoining areas. Talking to reporters outside Parliament House, Minister of State for Home RPN Singh said the Centre is also providing all possible help to the state to bring calm in the Jammu region.

Earlier in the day, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters outside Parliament House, “The Jammu and Kashmir government is playing bad politics over the issue. It is an anti-India flare-up in which anti- India slogans were raised. The separatists have gone on a rampage. It is yet another Pakistan design. We do not want to inflame the issue.”

He maintained that Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley should have been allowed to visit the riot- affected areas of Kishtwar yesterday.