*Those who lead must be clean, look clean: Omar
*CM hands over resignation letter to Governor
*Governor gives another twist to the resignation episode
*Omar asked to continue till final decision is taken
These were the emotional words which former Chief Minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad had said in the State Assembly before driving to Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation, last year.
Yet again, history was repeated in the newly constructed State Assembly complex today, where young Chief Minister (CM), Omar Abdullah offered his resignation in reaction to the allegations dragging his involvement in the infamous sex scandal that rocked the entire Kashmir Valley in the year 2006.
It was the same month of July, when former Chief Minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad of the PDP-Congress coalition government, Ghulam Nabi Azad in an emotionally charged speech during the first sitting of the house had announced his resignation from the post. And this time again it is July when Omar Abdullah submits his resignation to the Governor.
Both the Chief Ministers announced their resignations in just three sittings in the Srinagar Assembly complex.
The only difference is of dates for Azad it was July 7 (2008) and for Omar is July 28 (2009).
On the day two of the Budget Session of the state Assembly, Omar Abdullah who announced his resignation from post.
“I cannot continue in this situation, and I will tender my resignation to the state Governor till my name is cleared of the allegations levelled against me," an emotional Omar Abdullah said on the floor of the house as party leaders tried their best to persuade him to take his pledge back.
In both the cases, it was PDP which compelled first Azad and now Omar to quit as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister (CMs).
The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah’s announcement came minutes after the senior PDP leader, Muzaffar Hussain Baigh on the floor of the House alleged Omar’s involvement in the 2006 sex racket that sparked wide spread protests across Kashmir Valley.
On the first day of Budget session on Monday, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti had disrupted the proceedings by raising the issue of twin rape and murder of Shopian women, allegedly by uniformed men. She was demanding punishment for the killers of the Shopian women. PDP President had also accused the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone of Partisan approach.
On the second sitting of the assembly, the scene was no different. The main Opposition party PDP and BJP legislators were on toes in the House, demanding permission to speak on some vital issues.
However, the commotion started soon after the Question Hour, when Baigh alleged that the Chief Minister (CM) was involved in the sex racket and his name figured at serial number 102 in the list of accused.
Asserting that politics should be clean and based on high standards of morality, Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah in his resignation letter addressed to Governor has said that PDP MLA Muzaffar Hussain Beigh has levelled unsubstantiated allegations against his person attacking his character. “Those who lead must not only be clean but also look to be clean. At the end of the day one has is one’s personal credibility and self respect. Both of these Mr. Beigh tried to snatch from me through the charges he levelled”, he wrote and requested the Governor to enquire into the allegations in a time bound manner and if the Governor is satisfied that there is any basis in these allegations accept the resignation of Chief Minister immediately.
The contents of the letter are “This morning on the floor of the House, the Peoples’ Democratic Party MLA namely Sh. Muzzafar Hussain Beigh levelled unsubstantiated allegations against my person attacking my character. Those who lead must not only be clean but also look to be clean. At the end of the day all one has is one’s personal credibility and self respect. Both of these Mr. Beigh tried to snatch from me through the charges he levelled.
I would be grateful, if you could enquire into the allegations against me in a time bound manner and if you are satisfied that there is any basis in these allegations please accept my resignation immediately.
I want to keep my conscience clean and don’t want to carry this stigma on my mind because I have always believed that politics should be clean and based on high standards of morality. I will always continue to strive for rich traditions which I have inherited from my grandfather Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and my father Dr. Farooq Abdullah”.
MEANWHILE; Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N Vohra on Tuesday asked Omar Abdullah to continue discharging his responsibilities as Chief Minister of the state till final decision over his resignation is taken.
Reports reaching Press Bureau of India said that Governor is reported to have observed that he would be able to consider Omar’s resignation only after first being fully informed about the details of the allegation against him and, thereafter, being satisfied about the verified basis thereof.
In this context the Raj Bhavan has addressed the Legislative Assembly Secretariat to be supplied with certified copies of all the relevant statements and documents relating to the allegation under reference.
A Spokesperson of the Raj Bhavan disclosed that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on the Governor today afternoon and requested him to enquire, on a time-bound basis, into the allegations made against his moral character by Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, an MLA belonging to the PDP, during the course of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday and to immediately accept his resignation in case the Governor is satisfied that there is any basis therein.
The spokesman said that the governor, who was on his way to the Airport to leave for
Pertinently, Omar asked the governor to conduct an enquiry into the allegations levelled against him.
“I would be grateful, if you could enquire into the allegations against me in a time bound manner and if you are satisfied that there is any basis in these allegations please accept my resignation immediately,” Omar wrote to the governor.
“I want to keep my conscience clean and do not want to carry this stigma on my mind because I have always believed that politics should be clean and based on high standards of morality. I will always continue to strive for rich traditions which I have inherited from my grandfather Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and my father Dr. Farooq Abdullah,” he said in his resignation letter addressed to Vohra.
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