The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the sacking of Jammu and Kashmir 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 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," 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.