Pressure mounting on Peerzada to quit; some action tomorrow: Omar

Pressure was mounting on Education Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed on Thursday to resign from the Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet in the wake of the exam scandal involving his foster son while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said some "action" is expected on Friday.

Sources in the Congress said the Minister is likely to be asked to step down by tomorrow till the completion of further probe after the Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police found alleged irregularities in the anwser sheets of his foster son's Class 10 exam which he passed.

Hectic consultations were also underway between ruling coalition partners National Conference and Congress on how to deal with the situation, sources said.

Talking to reporters in Delhi, Omar said the findings of the Crime Branch have been discussed with his alliance partner Congress.

"We will decide action in 24-36 hours. The minister is not accused of helping his son," Omar said but added the probe had not yet established at whose behest the tampering of three answersheets had been done.

Omar also took to Twitter to come out with his stand.

"Am discussing the Peerzada matter with my allies as he holds a portfolio allocated to them. Expect further action in the matter tomorrow," he said.

In another tweet, he said, "So even though the crime branch have stopped short of naming the persons who influenced the cheating its the proverbial Caeser's wife story."

"Peerzada Syed heads the department about which allegations have been levelled and that fact is inescapable."

"I am just following the natural course of justice that his guilt has to be established. I can't go on presumptions. The guilt must be established. In this case, the minister happens to be the Education Minister also. Therefore, a thorough probe is a must," he told reporters.

Peerzada's foster-son Imam Sauban meanwhile rejected the police probe report as "one-sided".

He told reporters in Jammu he has "no relation" with Peerzada who is being targeted by political rivals using him.

"I have not been been investigated by Crime Branch about my hand writing", Imam said adding "guns are being trained on Peerzada using my shoulders under a conspiracy", he said. PTI SKL SWT ABS AB GSN GSN 02092252 NNNN

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Asked if the Congress high command has asked Peerzada Mohd Sayeed to resign, PCC chief Saifuddin Soz told PTI late tonight that "the party high command is seized of the developments in J&K and it will respond appropriately". PTI SPG PAL 02092321 NNNN