Click to play videoKashmir: Jammu and Kashmir witnessed dramatic developments on Tuesday with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resigning from his post after senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Muzaffar Baig alleged that Omar was involved in the infamous Srinagar sex scandal of 2006 which was being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
An upset Omar stunned his party, the National Conference, in J-K Assembly when he said he would resign. He later drove to the Raj Bhawan to tender his resignation though Governor NN Vohra has asked him to stay on.
PDP leader and former deputy chief minister Baig claimed in the Assembly that Omar and Farooq Abdullah had been named in the 2006 Srinagar sex scandal.
Omar stood up to reply and then announced that he was resigning. He submitted his resignation to the Governor, but it was conditional saying he should be sacked if he was proven guilty.
An angry Omar literally fought with his own party MLAs on the floor of the J-K Assembly saying he could no longer work under the circumstances.
It was an unexpected move and one that left everyone shocked. As his party colleagues tried hard to placate him, it seemed like the PDP had gotten the better of the young Chief Minister.
But Omar soon seemed to turn the tables walking out of the Assembly and off to see Governor Vohra even though his resignation letter left enough space for doubt.
"If the Governor is convinced that any of the allegations levelled against me are true then my resignation should be accepted," Omar wrote in his resignation letter.
Vohra took the letter and moved to Delhi. As the action moved to the Centre Omar got some comfort from his Congress coalition partner.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram came out to clear him of any charges.
"One case in which an FIR was registered on March 14, 2006 the CBI investigated and filed chargesheet against 17. The case is before district and sessions court in Chandigarh. The CBI has concluded its investigation. Omar Abdullah's name does not figure in the 17 accused in that case," said Chidambaram.
Omar's father and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah also landed in Delhi to garner support.
"Omar's name is not on any CBI list. Those making these allegations are wrong, Omar did the right thing, He felt his dignity is more important that the chair. If there's no dignity, what's the use of the CM's chair," said Farooq.
For the moment Omar has been asked to continue as Chief Minister but the high drama in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly only seems to underline how turbulent his tenure has been.
Beleaguered by the Opposition on the violence in the Valley and allegations of administrative inexperience, will Omar be able to turn the tables with his resignation drama is the question that many are asking.
(With inputs from Raheel Khurshid)
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