By IANS
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed resigned Tuesday following charges by an independent legislator, Shoaib Lone, of having taken a bribe of Rs.40,000 from him.
“The minister has resigned to pave way for an independent inquiry into the matter,” Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told members of the state legislative assembly.
Azad was speaking on the motion of thanks on the governor’s address to both houses of the state legislature.
The chief minister said that the “resignation letter has been forwarded to the governor for acceptance”.
Earlier Monday, Peerzada, who heads the state unit of the Congress, had told newsmen that he would resign as his name had figured in the corruption charges levelled by Lone.
“I have no idea as to what he (Lone) is talking about, but since my public image has been targeted, I would quit the ministry till inquiry comes out with its findings.”
“I, however, want the inquiry should be fair and just,” he said suspecting there was a “big political conspiracy (being hatched) against me by my rivals within the party (the Congress) and outside of it”.
Peerzada’s resignation came after Jammu and Kashmir police arrested his driver for allegedly making threatening calls to Lone’s mother. The caller had allegedly asked that either the lawmaker takes back his corruption allegations or he will be killed.
Lone, first disclosed the name of the “corrupt minister” to Azad on the floor of the house Monday and later made it known through local TV channels.
The opposition had raised the issue in the legislative assembly Monday and demanded the sacking of the minister.