Molestation case: Congress minister Shabir Khan resigns from J&K cabinet
Jammu: Congress Minister in Jammu and Kashmir government Shabir Khan resigned on Friday, a day after he was booked by police on a complaint by a lady doctor, alleging that he made an attempt to molest her in his office, sparking demands for his arrest.
Khan, an MLA from Rajouri and Minister of State for Health, submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who forwarded it to Governor N.N. Vohra.
Amid mounting pressure from political parties demanding action against him, Congress spokesman in the state Ravinder Sharma said the minister was asked to step down by state PCC Chief Saif-ud-din Soz pending inquiry.
Opposition parties demanded his immediate resignation with some going a step further seeking his arrest.
Police registered a case against Khan on Thursday after the doctor, wife of a separatist leader, alleged that the minister had called her to his office in Srinagar and attempted to molest her.
A case was registered under Sec 354 RPC (assault or criminal force on a woman with the intention to outrage her woman) and Section 509 RPC (word, gesture or act intended to outrage the modesty of a woman) against him.
"...this is a new low that this government has touched. In their own interest we believe that the government must take action in this matter and if a lady doctor is not safe with a minister then nobody is safe in this state," Opposition PDP spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar said.
"Now that Govenment has taken the first step by asking the minister to step down, it should now arrest him," PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti told reporters here at her residence.
State BJP chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh said, "It is an unfortunate development. A thorough probe needs to be ordered and the law must take its course without prejudice or favour to anyone."
NC Additional General Secretary Mustafa Kamal said, "The case has been registered, so we should wait for the outcome of the case. Law will take its own course."
Defending Khan, Congress MP Lal Singh wondered why there was delay in filing the complaint and said there was a possibility that the case was politically motivated. Ruling National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in Delhi that action should be taken against the state minister if the molestation charges were found to be true.
"If this is true, action will be taken and he will not be minister anymore and law will take its own course," Azad said.
The woman claimed she was called by the Minister's aide to visit the secretariat office. On reaching the office, the woman claimed she was asked to see the minister. She said she was then asked to make kahwa(Kashmiri tea).
The woman said she felt uncomfortable and quickly left the room after the minister allegedly tried to molest her.
