The crisis in the PDP-BJP coalition government over participation by two BJP ministers in a rally over the Kathua case subsided after the resignations of the two minister was accepted on Saturday.
The two ministers had participated in a rally on March 1 in support of the men who allegedly raped and murdered an eight-year-old Muslim nomad girl.
Minister for Forests and Environment Chaudhary Lal Singh and Industries and Commerce Minister Chander Prakash Ganga had supported a demand by the Hindu Ekta Manch that the case be handed over to CBI for investigation.
''Taking into consideration the situation and the general perception, the two ministers in consultation with party leaders decided to resign from their posts,'' said BJP's national general secretary Ram Madhav after chairing a meeting of the party leaders in Jammu. ''They have made it amply clear that they neither took any step to hamper investigation nor tried to save any of the accused.''
Madhav said the two ministers stepped down because of the perception about them.
He said the BJP president will forward the resignations to the chief minister for further action.
He said a perception was created by the opposition, particularly Congress, that the two BJP leaders were 'pro-rapists' and were trying to hamper the investigation.
''The campaign calling them pro-rapist is untrue and without any basis,'' Madhav said. ''Yes, there was some indiscretion but they never tried to hamper the investigation.”
He said the two BJP leaders had visited the Hindu Ekta Manch rally to clam down the people and clear misgiving about the investigations.
“I came last month and we had a meeting,'' Madhav said.
'We made it clear to everyone that it is a very serious crime and let the investigating agency complete the investigation.''
He said there is no threat to the coalition government and the two parties are working in coordination.
The PDP thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Ram Madhav for helping resolve the issue.
“They took the resignation of two ministers because as per media, their role was not positive,'' said PDP leader and Works Minister Nayeem Akhtar. ''That is also a confidence-building measure.''