Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 26: Had Prime Minister's Office (PMO) not intervened, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would not have favoured the resignation of Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo, it is learnt.
If highly placed sources are to be believed, "Even when the demand of resignation of Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo started gaining momentum within the Government i.e. from Congress' side, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah remained reluctant to show doors to Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo. Instead, he defended him and did not hold him responsible for the communal violence that erupted in Kishtwar district on August 9th ."
"Following Kishtwar violence, both Member Parliament (MPs) of Congress party, Madan Lal Sharma and Chowdhary Lal Singh approached the party high command and advocated the resignation of MoS Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo," revealed well placed sources in Congress and further added that "besides MPs, even Congress Ministers belonging to both the factions (Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saif-Ud-Din-Soz) separately spoke to their mentors and also supported the demand of resignation of Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo."
"After holding parleys with Congress Ministers, PCC president, Saif-ud-Din-Soz telephonically conveyed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and suggested him to ask his party colleague to step down till the inquiry gives him the clean chit. But, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah disagreed with Soz," shared sources in Congress and further added that "even Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who also happens to be a relative of Kitchloo and Union Minister and party in-charge, J&K, Ambika Soni advised Omar Abdullah but the latter remained reluctant in his stand."
"Taking a serious not of such stand, Ambika Soni held and an emergent meeting with AICC president, Sonia Gandhi and discussed the entire political situation prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir. She also briefed her about ground situation and suggestions/demands presented by Congress leadership of Jammu and Kashmir," sources further shared.
"Finally, PMO intervened and asked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ask his party Minister to resign and also to hold independent inquiry by a retired High Court Judge. Chief Minister was also suggested that if the inquiry gives clean chit to MoS Home, he can be re-inducted into the Ministry," sources added. |
