Under attack from opposition parties over the recent communal violence in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir's Minister of State (MoS) for Home Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo resigned on Monday.
Three people have been killed and more than 20 injured in different parts of the Jammu region since Eid.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Kichloo announced his resignation.
“I have forwarded my resignation to the chief minister. I am innocent and a false propaganda has been unleashed against me. The judicial probe ordered by the government will bring out the truth,” he said.
The outgoing MoS alleged that certain political parties were trying to malign his name for their petty ends by blaming him for the incidents that happened on Eid. Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also blamed him for the Kishtwar incident.
Taking strong exception to BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s statement in Parliament, he said: “Did (Narendra) Modi resign after Godhra? What happened to Amit Shah, who is now the star campaigner of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh? Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones on others.”
Kichloo, a National Conference member to the Assembly from the Kishtwar constituency, was sworn in as MoS for Home in January this year.
Opposition parties have alleged that the government had been warned by intelligence agencies of escalating tension, and that the Army was called in too late. Meanwhile, on the advice of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra accepted the resignation of Kichloo.
The state government has also ordered a judicial inquiry into Kishtwar incident. An official spokesman said that the inquiry would be conducted by a retired Judge of the High Court.