BJP protests re-induction of Kitchloo in J&K govt

Jammu: BJP on Sunday held protests in several parts of Jammu division as part of the 48-hour bandh against the re-induction of Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo in the Omar Abdullah government, and demanded that the details of the probe report giving Kitchloo a clean chit in the Kishtwar communal clashes case be made public.

Demanding an independent probe, BJP flayed the report of the Justice Gandhi Commission which exonerated Kitchloo and blamed police and the local administration for mismanagement during the August 9 riots, which left three dead and dozens injured. "Justice (retd) R C Gandhi and NC-led government should reveal the names of all the 300 persons who submitted their affidavits before the Commission," BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma told reporters here, leading over 100 party workers at a protest at Kachi Chawni area here. The commission and government should disclose the names of 50 to 60 witnesses examined and make public other evidences that made the Commission believe that Kitchloo was innocent and certain officials in the civil and police administration failed to discharge their duties and prevent the loss of life and properties of the minority community, Sharma said. Kitchloo had quit as Minister of State for Home following the riots, and was re-inducted into the ministry yesterday after his exoneration a day earlier. Making public the details of the report is a must to clear the confusion and reassure the aggrieved minority community that the Commission "has not connived" with the government to ensure a clean chit to Kitchloo, he said. "We demand immediate relief to the victims of Kishtwar (violence) and also demand that culprits be booked immediately," the BJP leader said, adding that the party would take up the issue in a big way. The 48-hour bandh called by BJP in Jammu was supported by All Parties Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), Jammu Bar Association and other social organisations. Partial bandh was observed in the city but no untoward incident was reported from anywhere, police said. In Samba district, BJP activists blocked a national highway for a brief period and raised slogans against the government.