Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Haq Khan says he will resign if links to militancy are proven

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir minister Abdul Haq Khan said on Saturday he would resign from his post if allegations of him having links with militancy were proven.

The allegation against the state law minister was levelled by opposition National Conference MLAs Abdul Majid Bhat and Mohammad Akbar Lone in the state Assembly in Srinagar.

The trouble started when the minister tried to interrupt Bhat from briefing Speaker Kavinder Gupta about the number of people injured in security forces action near the encounter site in Bijbehara on Friday.

Two civilians were killed and a militant was gunned down during the encounter between security forces and Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. The encounter broke out at 10 am at Arwani village in Bijbehara, 51 kilometres from Srinagar, in which 10 other civilians were injured.

“I am raising the issues of my people. You are an Ikhwani (government gunman), do not try to be the deputy chief minister and dictate me,” Bhat shot back at Khan.

Reacting to the allegation, the law minister said, “If it is proved that I had any links with militancy, I will resign.”

As Khan denied the charge against him, former speaker and NC MLA from Sonawari, Mohammad Akbar Lone asked the treasury benches, “Was he not a militant? Was he not a member of Al-Barq (militant outfit)?”

Some members from the treasury benches then pointed towards Congress MLA from Bandipora, Usman Majeed, who is an Ikhwani-turned politician.

“Yes I was (Ikhwani) and he (Khan) was too, but he is lying now,” Majeed said amidst the din in the House.

PDP MLA from Chadoora, Javid Mir, in a bid to pacify the situation said, “You were a militant, he was a militant. Now both of you are in the mainstream.”

Ikhwan force, locally known as ’naabedh’, was a pro-government militia in Jammu and Kashmir, composed of surrendered Kashmiri militants. The group helped the Indian security agencies to counter the militant groups operating in the Valley. The force was disbanded in 2003.