The resignation letters of two J&K ministers who attended a rally supporting the accused in the Kathua rape and killing case will be forwarded to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the BJP said today.
The resignation letters of two Jammu and Kashmir ministers who attended a rally supporting the accused in the Kathua rape and killing case will be forwarded to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the BJP said today.
The two leaders - Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga - had submitted their resignations to state BJP President Sat Sharma on Friday after facing criticism for their participation in the event.
"The state party president will send the resignations of two ministers to J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti later today. Further decisions will be taken by her," Senior BJP leader Ram Madhav said after a Legislative Party meeting in Jammu today.
A meeting of Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) is also being held in Srinagar today to discuss the situation.
Last month, Lal Singh, the state's Minister for Forest, and Ganga, who holds the Commerce and Industries portfolio in Mufti government, attended an event organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch in favour of the accused in rape-murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua.
According to reports, the two BJP ministers had gone to the place of agitation at Rasana in Kathua and had attended a meeting in support of the accused to demand a CBI probe in the matter.
Singh today defended his participation in the rally saying it was meant to defuse the situation and restore normalcy.
"We had gone to defuse the situation created due to migration one and half months back. We told them they should go back. Abdul Gani Kohli (minister) was sent to the house of the victim, so that an ugly situation was not created," Lal told reporters.
"I had gone there, (ministers) Bali (Bhagat) and (Abdul Gani) Kohli had gone to Nowshera and Sunderbani to listen to people. Should we not listen to them? For what are we people's representatives? Should we allow people to burn the state and die," he asked.
The rally was organised by Hindu Ekta Manch in favour of the men accused of raping and killing an eight-year-old girl from the Bakerwal community.
The residents of Rasana village had also migrated to Hiranagar as a protest and blocked a road against the PDP-BJP government alleging harassment.
Ganga, the other minister in the eye of the storm for attending the rally, said there was no pressure on him to resign.
"I have demanded a CBI inquiry in this matter. I have never done politics for power. There was no pressure on me to resign, I have done it by myself. If my resignation can save the image of my party, I will make this sacrifice," he said.
The two leaders had submitted their resignations to state BJP President Sat Sharma on Friday, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence on Kathua and Unnao rape cases and said the daughters "will get complete justice."
The body of the Kathua girl was found in Rasana forest on January 17, a week after she went missing while grazing horses in the forest area.
On January 23, the government had handed over the case to the Crime Branch which formed a special investigation team and arrested eight people, including two Special Police Officers (SPOs) and a head constable.
Lawyers also opposed the action, alleging that minority Dogras were being targeted.
(With PTI inputs)
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