The Hindu : J&K Minister quits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 12, 2003

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J&K Minister quits

By Luv Puri

Jammu Sept. 11. In a big blow to the 10-month-old People's Democratic Party-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Agriculture Minister, Abdul Aziz Zargar, submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, following accusations that he had links with the militants who conspired to attack the Akshardham temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Recently, the Minister had been the prime target of the Opposition after news was leaked to the local media that militants who had planned the temple attack last year had stayed in his ancestral house in the Manzgam forest belt of Anantnag district.

Breaking his silence, the Minister today surprised everyone when he announced his resignation at a public rally in Anantnag.

Talking to The Hindu after faxing his resignation letter to the Chief Minister, the Minister said, "I have submitted my resignation to the Chief Minister so as not to cause him embarrassment. I am pained to hear these false reports casting doubts on my loyalty to the country. During my entire

Syasi (political) career none has doubted my credentials as a nationalist and it was because of this reason I was the target of militants."

Mr. Zargar said that he had migrated from his village, located near the forests in a remote area immediately after the eruption of militancy in the valley. He was not aware of who visited his native house and at what point of time.

Even during electioneering, he neither visited his native house nor stayed in the village. He said that since he had not lived in the house for the last 13 years, it was mischievous to talk about any links between him and the militants.

He regretted that despite his denial of any link with militants, the campaign continued unabated and it appeared to be motivated. Asked who were behind the campaign, he said, "I will not take any names but these are the people who are scared of the popularity of the Mufti Government."

The National Conference has often accused the PDP of having taken the support of militants in the last Assembly elections and having entered into a tacit understanding with them, a charge denied by the PDP.

The former Minister and National Conference leader, Sakina Ittoo, who had unsuccessfully contested against Mr. Zargar from Noorabad constituency, had been singled out by militants. She escaped repeated assassination attempts while Mr. Zargar moved around in the constituency without any security, Ms. Sakina had charged.

Talking to The Hindu, the National Conference president, Omar Abdullah, said, "We are not making false allegations or floating rumours for the sake of it. Let the people at the helm of affairs explain this."

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