A day after Mufti Mohd Sayeed allocated portfolios to his Council of Ministers, Sajad lone, an ally of the BJP in Jammu & Kashmir, has refused to take charge as Minister in the new State Government because he is upset with his portfolio. The People’s Conference leader has been allotted Animal Husbandry, which he believes is too insignificant.
On Sunday his entry in the Council of Ministers was labelled as significant beginning in the State of Jammu & Kashmir as he became the first separatist leader to join the office after joining the mainstream and winning the Assembly polls from Handwara Assembly segment.
When his name was called during the oath taking ceremony, he was applauded by the jam packed audience in the Zorawar Singh auditorium. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed had greeted him with warm hugs and handshakes while welcoming him. lone was made Minister incharge of Animal Husbandry and Science and Technology Department on late Tuesday evening.
According to the inside reports, lone was expecting to get some key portfolio but ended up with the Animal Husbandry Department. He was inducted in the Cabinet from the BJP quota despite reservations by the PDP top brass.
On the other hand several new Ministers who joined office here in the civil secretariat remained busy with visitors and party workers as they came to congratulate them. The BJP Ministers, who were joining the office for the first time, were over enthusiastic and spent the day meeting visitors.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu immediately after joining the office chaired meeting with senior officials of their respective departments. Drabu also reviewed the preparation of the Budget and plan for the next year while Singh took stock of the power situation in the State.