Kashmiri Pandits demand removal of Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: Kashmiri Pandits today demanded removal of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister accusing him of advocating separatist agenda through his recent statement in the state Assembly.

"Omar's statement in the state assembly has helped promote the illegitimate agenda of separatists. He has become an advocate of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and has violated the oath of office as the Chief Minister, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) General Secretary H L Chata told reporters here.

Alleging that with Omar making a statement like that in the House, it had become difficult to distinguish between an elected representative and secessionists, Chata demanded his immediate removal as the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister has put forward wrong arguments by suggesting that the merger is incomplete while the fact of the matter is that the accession of J and K with the Union was ratified by both the Constituent Assembly and the State Assembly, he said, adding that for Kashmiri Pandits the accession is full, final and irrevocable.

Panun Kashmir President Ashwani Chrungoo, who was also present at the press conference, alleged that the Chief Minister's statement "bordered on sedition" and asked the Centre to clarify if his statement had the approval of the Congress which is a ruling ally in the state.