Mattoo resigns as advisor to CM

Jammu Tawi, Nov 24: Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti's Adviser Amitabh Mattoo has resigned from his post and will be moving back to Australia.

Mattoo told agencies: “There is no political or administrative reason for my decision to step down.

“I have resigned due to personal reasons as I seriously feel I need more time to devote to academics. Politics has never been my career or ambition.

“I also genuinely believe I can serve the people of my country and state better by continuing my academic journey. Kindly don't try to attribute any political motive to my decision,” he said.

There was no official word if the Chief Minister had accepted Mattoo's resignation.

Mattoo was appointed as advisor by Mehbooba Mufti with the status of cabinet minister in April this year.

Mattoo, an expert on international relations, was first appointed as adviser to then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on August 21, 2015, with a Cabinet status. When Mehbooba took over as the CM after her father's death, Mattoo was again appointed as adviser to the CM on April 27 this year. He even formally joined the PDP on March 3 this year when Mehbooba had kick-started a membership drive for the party in Jammu.

A close confidant of Mufti, Mattoo even played a big role in bringing together the PDP and BJP to form the coalition government in the state after the 2014 Assembly elections. He was also an important Track-II diplomacy member and participated in many conferences, including Pugwash meet in Pakistan.

He also served her father, the late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, till his death in January this year. He drew Re.1 as token salary as advisor.

A former Vice Chancellor of Jammu University, Mattoo is also a member of many national and international bodies of academics.