Farooq should step down as Union Minister to back Omar on AFSPA:BJP

Jammu: Lambasting Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah for his recent remarks on AFSPA, Bharatiya Janata Party National General Secretary and National Spokesman J P Nadha today asked him to step down as Union Minister before issuing such statements to back his son.
“Being a Minister in the Centre, Dr Farooq should not issue such irresponsible statements on sensitive matters. He should step down as Union Minister before commenting anything on revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and against Army to support his son Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” Mr Nadha told reporters at a press conference here this morning.
Dr Farooq has recently said Army was not the ‘master’ of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it should concentrate on checking infiltration of terrorists.
The BJP stalwart alleged, “when militancy was at its peak in Jammu and Kashmir, the Father-Son (Farooq-Omar) left the state and settled abroad.” He said it was the Army that maintained law and order and controlled the situation in this hilly region adding, “in support of his son Omar Abdullah, Dr Farooq is issuing such statements but he should resign as a Union Minister if he cannot stand by on the issues of national interest.” Mr Nadha also questioned Union Defence and Home Ministries for not reacting to the statement adding, “the Centre did not either endorsed or denied the statement, which hints that it was issued intentionally.” The BJP leader. however, also criticized the Congress-led UPA government in the Centre alleging that it is playing mockery on sensitive issues particularly on security.
Meanwhile the saffron party also extended support to tomorrow’s bandh call given by the traders against the decision of the Central Government to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail sector.