Two days after the custodial death of a National Conference sympathiser and calls of resignation from the Opposition,the Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday came out to explain the death but refused to answer any question pertaining to the circumstances that led to it. The government,instead,advised the media and Opposition to be fair. Addressing a press conference,Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather didnt respond to questions about the death of Haji Syed Mohammad Yousuf (61),a retired teacher. This is question of fact, said Rather whenever asked any question pertaining to the custodial death. I will not answer question of facts. The judicial inquiry will answer all these questions, he said. Rather,instead,had an advice for the media and opposition political parties that have been calling for the resignations of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and MoS,Home,Nasir Aslam Wani. Keeping in view the gravity of the situation,keeping in view the sufferings of his (Yousufs) relatives,the media should report this issue with caution, he said. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar and CMs political advisors Devender Singh Rana and Mubarak Gul were also present at the press conference. I also appeal to politicians to wait for the judicial inquiry. I appeal them not to play politics over the issue, he said. Rather said the judicial inquiry ordered by the CM will not only look into the circumstances that led to Yousufs death but also probe into the allegations of corruption. You should appreciate that the CM ordered judicial inquiry without wasting any time. The CMs only fault,if you would call it a fault is that somebody came to him with a complaint. He took notice of it and asked the Crime Branch to probe into it. For this,if somebody would say that he has no right to be the Chief Minister and call for his resignation,I feel nobody would accept this demand, he said. Though the state government has announced an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court,the police have not lodged an FIR in the case so far and the Inspector General of Police (Crime) has said that there is nothing to probe about. Rather,however,ducked this question saying only the IGP can answer it. Whether an FIR should be lodged and when it should be lodged,the Commission will decided about it, he said. The PDP has decided to bring in adjournment motion in the Assembly on Monday over the custodial death.
