Sajad Kitchloo was under attack over his alleged role in the communal violence.
Under fire for his alleged role in the Kishtwar communal flare up, Jammu and Kashmir minister of state for home and Kishtwar MLA, Sajad Ahmad Kitchloo resigned on Monday even as fresh clashes broke out in the restive township.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah ordered a judicial probe by a retired high court judge even as he tweeted anger and revived the ghosts of Gujarat riots to target the BJP calling the party as “hypocrites”.
Things changed dramatically on Monday morning when Kishtwar issue rocked the parliament. Junior home minister, who had virtually withdrawn into a shell after the communal clashes, surfaced in National Conference headquarters in Jammu and announced the resignation before media.
Kitchloo pleaded innocence and pressed BJP’s raw nerve by dragging BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and his aide Amit Shah’s names into the controversy.
“I am innocent. I have done no wrong; my conscience is clear …I take strong exception to what Arun Jaitley said.
Did (Narendra) Modi resign after Godhra? What happened to Amit Shah who is now the star campaigner of BJP in Uttar Pradesh? Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones on others,” Kitchloo said.
Kitchloo pinned hopes on the time bound judicial probe announced by Omar. “Truth must come out, culprits must be identified and those responsible must be punished. My conscience does not allow me to continue as a minister till probe files its findings,” he said.
Minutes later angry Omar took to Twitter to hit out at BJP which has been gunning for his minister’s head. “3 unfortunate deaths - 1 Hindu, 2 Muslim & we’ve a judicial inquiry with my minister resigning. Would the BJP care to recount 2002 response? Would Jaitley be so kind as to inform parliament whether the Gujarat home minister or MoS Home resigned or even offered to in 2002?” he tweeted.
Main opposition PDP too chipped in and raked up 2010 killings to hit out at Omar. “The chief minister brags that he sacked his minister... But was any action taken when 120 youth including children were killed in 2010? Unfortunately the curfew is being implemented selectively,” Mehbooba Mufti, PDP president, told reporters.
As the war of words was on, fresh clashes broke out in Kishtwar where people defied curfew and clashed with police. Security forces were immediately moved in to restore order. The clashes started after a suspect was arrested by the police. People reacted angrily and hurled stones on the police which fired smokes shells and used cane charge to disperse the mob. Six people including three cops were injured. “We have arrested 10 people and lodged seven FIRs. There was some reaction to it. Some of the policemen were injured,” said Shantmanu, divisional commissioner Jammu.
Curfew remained in force in eight of ten districts of Jammu division. Army staged flag marches in the areas to maintain order.
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