Srinagar, Oct 31: Leader of Opposition (LoP) and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sunil Sharma on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged multi-crore scam in the PW (R&B) Department and called for the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Sharma, while speaking to reporters outside the assembly secretariat, said that a newspaper has reported major financial deviations and scams in a government scheme.
He said that, on one hand, the government claims to be committed to employment resolutions, but on the other hand, it is itself entangled in corruption worth crores of rupees. “The division mentioned in the report falls within a particular constituency. The government should tell us who the MLA of that constituency is, and whether that MLA also serves as a minister. If he is a minister, how close is he to Omar Abdullah? Does he not meet Omar Abdullah privately and late at night? If such late-night meetings are taking place with the minister from the same constituency where this scam has been exposed by a leading newspaper, Omar Abdullah must clarify what discussions are held behind closed doors. Are those meetings about corruption and financial deals?” he said.
Sharma said it is shocking that, in less than a year, such “large-scale scams” have come to light. “We are deeply concerned. We expected the government to take action. Aaj jo ek akhbaar ne release kiya, us par humein bahut aitraaz hai, narazgi hai. Humein umeed thi ki sarkar koi action legi. Hum isme CBI inquiry ki demand karte hain, kyunki main keh raha hoon ki ye sirf ek division ka nahi, aise kitne hi divisions honge jahan aise scandals hue hain,” he told reporters.
Referring to the media reports, the LoP said that tenders were allotted to a single contractor. “Strange things are happening under this government, and we fail to understand where it is heading. Why has there been no CBI inquiry despite such a big loss to the public exchequer? Omar Abdullah’s government has made tall claims, but this exposes the reality. He must clarify what happens in his meetings with the minister from the concerned constituency. Do they discuss contractors and deals or party politics?”
The BJP leader said corruption is the biggest disease in society, which hurts everyone, including casual labourers, who should have been regularised through fair use of public funds. “Instead, this money is being misused. If corruption is curbed, many other issues will automatically be resolved,” he said.
When asked about the dismissal of two more government employees from service, Sharma said, “The government must act against anyone who threatens the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. This is the clarity of the Modi government. Any individual involved in anti-national activities must be dismissed from service.”
The LoP also criticised the government’s “failure” to assess damages caused by recent heavy rains and floods in Jammu and Kashmir. “In August, heavy rainfall caused massive destruction. Poor people lost homes, land, crops, and livestock. Three senior cabinet ministers from the Union government visited for a loss assessment and directed the state government to prepare and send a report to the Centre for compensation. But till now, no such report has been prepared. This is an insult to those poor families who are waiting for relief,” he said.
He added, “For the last three days, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been raising the issue of flood-hit people in the Assembly, demanding an adjournment motion to discuss their condition. The Speaker assured us that a discussion would be allowed, but the government is avoiding it.”—(KNO)
