The Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] has demanded the sacking of Jammu and Kashmir [ Images ] Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Kaarrah for demanding a separate currency for the state.

"Chief Minister Gulam Nabi Azad should sack the minister for making such outrageous demand. He should be prosecuted for making such a statement," a spokesperson said.

In Jammu, there were widespread protests and effigies of the minister were burnt. "He is speaking the language of the ISI," a protestor said.

Former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah [ Images ] sought to play down the demand by saying that it was a populist comment made by a small-time politician. "Shall we have his picture instead of Mahatma Gandhi [ Images ]," he said.

The minister in question is now claiming he had been misquoted and he was speaking of the scenario when there is a settlement of the Kashmir issue.