Sack minister for demanding separate currency: BJP

http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/05jk.htm

Sack minister for demanding separate currency: BJP

Onkar Singh in New Delhi January 05, 2008 16:01 IST

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