Srinagar, July 29: In a high-voltage political drama, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today resigned following a sensational allegation by a senior PDP leader of his involvement in the 2006 sex scandal and pressed for its acceptance if there is any basis in it.
Omar`s name did not figure in 2006 sex scandal case: CBI
Baig says Farooq also linked to sex scandalStunned by the allegation levelled by former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh in the Assembly, an angry and emotional Chief Minister immediately announced his decision to resign till he was cleared of the “blemish” and shortly later drove to Raj Bhawan and tendered his resignation to Governor N N Vohra.
Declaring that he was “guilty until proven innocent” and could not get back to work till his name was cleared, Abdullah strode out of the assembly after an emotional outburst that stunned his party – and political watchers with the suddenness with which events unfolded.
“It is not an accusation of a theft or dacoity. It is a much more serious accusation, and I cannot function as the Chief Minister unless cleared of the accusation,” Abdullah said in the Assembly and declared he would not return till the slur was removed.
“Abdullah requested the Governor to enquire on a time-bound basis into the allegations made against his moral character by Muzaffar Hussain Beigh in the Assembly today and to immediately accept his resignation in case the Governor is satisfied that there is any basis therein,” the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
Vohra, who was on his way to airport for a visit to Delhi returned to meet the Chief Minister and asked him to continue to discharge his responsibilities “till a final decision is taken”, an indication that the resignation may not be finally accepted.
An official statement said the Chief Minister wrote to the governor that the allegations levelled against him by the PDP should be thoroughly probed and if found true, the governor must immediately accept his resignation.
This gained further credence when the CBI sent a report to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker that Abdullah’s name does not figure in the chargesheet filed in the scandal, a point also made public by Home Minister P Chidambaram.
“The CBI has concluded the investigation. Mr. Omar Abdullah’s name does not figure in the list of the accused,” Chidambaram told reporters in Delhi.
The Governor is reported to have told Abdullah, who came to power at the head of a National Conference-Congress coalition in January, that he would be able to consider his resignation only after first being fully informed about the details of the allegation and “thereafter being satisfied about the verified basis thereof”.
–Agencies