Srinagar, Mar 12: Jammu & Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu was sacked by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday, reportedly for his recent speech where he said the issue in Kashmir is "not political".

Drabu later retracted his statement, claiming to be misinterpreted. However, the video of his controversial statement went viral on social media, drawing flak towards the state government from a vast section of the Kashmir populace.

Drabu, while speaking at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry event in New Delhi on March 9, said, "Don't see J&K as a conflict state and political issue. It is a society which has social issues right now. We are trying to find our own space and going through a process which other countries are also going through."

Marking its dissent against the statements of Drabu, the ruling PDP said the issue in Kashmir has "always remained" political.

"PDP, since its inception, has considered Kashmir issue as political. We have relentlessly been pursuing its resolution through reconciliation and dialogue, both at internal and external levels,” PDP vice president Sartaj Madni said.

The National Conference was also quick to lambast the PDP over the statements made by Drabu. "If J&K is not a political issue, then has the Centre appointed Dineshwar Sharma as the interlocutor. And if it only a social issue, as the Minister has claimed, then why has India and Pakistan fought four wars over Kashmir," said NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar.

Sagar further alleged that Drabu is being used by the BJP, the ruling alliance partner of PDP. "Why else would a well read person like Drabu issue such statements," he asked.

Drabu, 57, was among the architects of the PDP-BJP alliance which was stitched after the 2014 J&K assembly elections. He also emerged as a frontrunner for the post of chief minister after the demise of late PDP president Mufti Muhammad Saeed in December 2015. However, the party eventually decided to elevate Mehbooba as the CM.

Ahead of being actively involved in state politics, Drabu emerged as a noted economist in J&K. He was the chief executive officer of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank between 2005-10.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 12, 2018 05:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).