The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the sacking of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Kaarrah for demanding a separate currency for the state.
"Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad should sack the minister for making such outrageous demand. He should be prosecuted for making such a statement," a spokesperson said.
In Jammu, there were widespread protests and effigies of the minister were burnt. "He is speaking the language of the ISI," a protestor said.
Former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah sought to play down the demand by saying that it was a populist comment made by a small-time politician. "Shall we have his picture instead of Mahatma Gandhi [Images]," he said.
The minister in question is now claiming he had been misquoted and he was speaking of the scenario when there is a settlement of the Kashmir issue.
© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
|