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| Will Azad sack Minister? | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Jan 6
After the controversial comments made by the Finance Minister, Tariq Hamid Qarra about a separate currency for the state of Kashmir, the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is in a fix since the demand for Karra's removal is gaining ground. Further, protests are gaining ground in Kashmir as the demand for Karras has been termed as 'seditious'.
On Friday, the saffron party had lashed out at the minister and had demanded the resignation of the J&K Finance Minister, who reportedly proposed separate currency for the state.
Reacting strongly and condemning the incident, BJP spokesperson -- Ravishankar Prasad -- had demanded that J&K finance minister -- Tariq Karra -- be sacked for his demands for separate currency for Kashmir.
"We condemn it outrightly. The currency of India is one, the identity of India is one and Jammu and Kashmir is a part of it. Certainly, all kind of autonomy within the framework can be given, but a minister to claim a separate currency for the state of J&K is totally unacceptable and we demand that such a minister ought to be sacked," Prasad said on Friday (January 5).
While Omar Abdullah, Leader, National Congress described the statement by the J&K Finance Minister as electoral politics. He said:"To express solutions that fall outside the purview of the Indian constitution and that too by somebody who has sworn an oath to that very constitution is very unfortunate. From a minister and that too a finance minister to suggest a solution that Kasmir will have its own currency, I think is purely electoral politics."
And with strong voices from various opposition parties gaining ground demanding that the Jammu and Kashmir government sack the state finance minister -- Tariq Hameed Karra - for proposing a separate currency for the state of J&K.
Though, the state finance minister has justified his stand in hindsight saying that a common currency concept in South Asia has been discussed in SAARC meet, his statement has clearly put the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minisiter -- Gulam Nabi Azad -- in the dock.
The Chief Minister has refused to comment on the latest controversy, which has hit his cabinet. While, his party -- the Congress - which has allied with the PDP in the state -- has distanced itself considering the kind of ramifications it possibly can have on the party's image.
Though, the party members remained tightlipped on the issue, a statement was pasted on the Congress party's website calling the idea suggested by the state finance minister as preposterous.
Moreover, the state finance minister's rash comment has left the senior members of the party red-faced. The senior member of the party, Muzaffar Beig, was in a damage control mode and said:"Please don't give to much of importance to his statement. This was an occassion when a minister went a little overboard, however, that is not the stand taken by the PDP leadership.
And with the opposition gunning for him, all eyes now are on J&K Chief Minister as to whether he will bow down under pressure and actually sack the state finance minister at the cost of his party's alliance? |
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