PDP demands J-K minister's resignation

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today demanded resignation of Jammu and Kashmir's minister of state for Home Affairs Sajad Ahmad Kichloo after a local court directed to register a case against him for slapping a government official.
"The instructions of the court makes it obvious that a prima facie case of misconduct is established against Kichloo," a PDP spokesman said in a statement here.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Kishtwar Ajay K Gupta, had directed the police on Monday to register a case against Kichloo and issued orders to senior police officials of the district to monitor the probe.
The minister had allegedly slapped the CEO of Kishtwar Development Authority, Riyad Ahmed Choudhary, at the Kishtwar Dak Bungalow in the presence of several senior officials on April 18.

The PDP spokesman said the Chief Minister should have dropped Kichloo immediately after the incident had taken place at Kishtwar.
"But it is now an established fact that a morally weakened Omar Abdullah is in no position to enforce accountability in his Cabinet," he said.
The minister should immediately resign to make a fair investigation by the police possible, the spokesman said.
"Till Kichloo holds the Home portfolio, it is obvious that the purpose of the investigation, which the court has ordered, cannot be fulfilled," he added.