Kashmir minister quits over Kishtwar violence

Jammu, Aug 12 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo resigned Monday after coming under attack over the communal violence in Kishtwar that left two people dead.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accepted the resignation and forwarded it to Governor N.N. Vohra.

Kitchloo, who represents Kishtwar in the state assembly, earlier told the media that he would quit.

Kitchloo has come under serious criticism for the alleged poor handling of the communal trouble that later spread to other areas in the Jammu region.

The home portfolio is held by the chief minister.

Even as he prepared to resign, Kitchloo questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party's right to demand his resignation.

"Did Narendra Modi resign after the Gujarat riots?" he asked.