Row over Smriti Irani: Omar says it's PM's prerogative to choose ministers

Srinagar: Amid the raging controversy over Smriti Irani being made the Union HRD Minister, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah today said it was the prerogative of the prime minister to name anyone as a minister. “To say a person is qualified or not, I do not want to get into that. He (Prime Minister) has made them ministers and we hope they will do their job in the best way to serve the people,” Abdullah said. [caption id=“attachment_1548955” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Omar Abdullah. AFP[/caption] In last two days Congress launched a broadside against the BJP leader, questioning her ability to deliver as a HRD minister as she was “not even a graduate”. Breaking her silence over the controversy, Irani today said “extraneous circumstances” were created to deviate her attention from work and asked the people to judge her by her work. Abdullah today also said a considerate view will be taken on the issue of granting general amnesty to the youth involved in stone-pelting incidents across Kashmir. “The issue of the youth involved in stone-pelting was also raised… that there should be a general amnesty for the poor stone-pelters and a considerate view be taken on the issue,” Abdullah told reporters after chairing a youth convention of the party here. Abdullah said the meeting discussed the problems of the youth and how to connect them with the seniors of the party. “Some good points were raised during the meeting. I saw the youth have sentiments and we should respect those sentiments,” he said. The NC chief speaking on the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif said, “I thank God that a cordial meeting took place in Delhi. We hope that the meeting goes forward and tries to solve all the issues between Indian and Pakistan”. The former Union Minister and father of the state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to comment on the statement of Union Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh over Article 370. “I do not have to say anything. Omar has said everything on it and I do not need to add anything more,” he said. Abdullah said the party has taken no decision yet on continuing the alliance for the forthcoming assembly elections. “No decision has been taken on that. When the time comes, we will take a decision,” he said. PTI