J&K impasse continues as Guv consults Centre

The political crisis in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tendering his resignation after the Opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) had levelled his involvement in a sex scandal continues to hang fire with Governor N N Vohra consulting the central leaders to end it.

According to sources, Vohra, who has been camping in New Delhi, “is in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also the Prime Minister’s Office”. A state government spokesperson said the governor would give a statement by tomorrow.

With a hostile PDP leadership rejecting the ‘clean chit’ by the CBI to the chief minister and with Omar himself saying that he would not work till he was cleared of charges, the Centre is looking at a quick investigation into his alleged involvement in the 2006 sex scandal.

Sources said the MHA and PMO were examining the list of ‘suspects’ in the case, including Omar and even that of his father and Union minister Farooq Abdullah. The Centre would try to get the list scrutinised by a competent authority, probably the CBI, at the earliest so that Omar gets back to work.

Omar, who did not attend his office or Assembly today, is awaiting Vohra’s decision on his resignation to announce his next move.

Meanwhile, the Kashmir valley witnessed clashes between the National Conference (NC) and PDP supporters at many places. NC supporters burnt effigies of PDP leaders Mehbooba Mufti and Muzaffar Hussein Beigh.