Separate currency for J&K: Karra

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Karra, whose suggestion for a separate currency for the state has triggered a storm, said on Saturday he had made the suggestion in the context of free trade zone among South Asian countries.

"This concept was discussed in SAARC. The concept of a common currency is also the basis of SAFTA. I had made those comments in that context", he said.

Karra belongs to Congress' coalition partner in the state, PDP. Both Congress and BJP have opposed Karra's view saying it was unacceptable.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beig said Karra's remarks did not reflect the stand of PDP. The Finance Minister went a "little overboard" and too much importance should not be given to these remarks, Beig said.