Budgam/Srinagar, September 22 (Scoop News) -Former Minister and Member AICC Abdul Gani Vakil today said that his tirade against corruption will continue for the welfare of people who believe that taxpayers’ money is going to drains. “Nobody can stop me from raising voice against this menace of corruption because this menace is eating into vitals of our society”. “I will not be coward down by suppressive measures but will continue my crusade against corruption fearlessly”. My crusade will not stop till guilty is punished Vakil added. Mr. Vakil was addressing a party workers convention at Budgam today.
Mr. Vakil said a good chunk of forest land and private land has been grabbed by a sitting minister and is entered as illegal occupant in the records but still no one is ready to speak or initiate action against the land grabbers. The green gold for which even the Supreme Court has given strict directions needs to be preserved. However, in a state where lawlessness has encouraged land grabbers and where forest and even the agriculture land are getting thinner day by day. The situation has reached a stage where even party workers have started feeling alienated. Vakil said that morale of party workers was still high but they need to be consolidated so that Congress alone can give people a stable and transparent government. He asked party workers and leaders to strengthen hands of AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and spread the programmes and policies of Congress in far off places of the state.
Vakil expressed concern over government’s attitude towards corruption and corrupt elements and said that now situation has reached a stage where government is denying sanction for prosecution of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and in some cases the politicians and bureaucrats themselves have sought stay against State Accountability Commission (SAC) orders thereby completely camouflage their misdeeds.
It was only after the intervention of court that government moved a little bit and gave sanction against one former minister and couple of officials but still chose to remain silent on other cases involving politicians and bureaucrats. The government which had pledged to give people transparent and accountable administration is today on the threshold of collapsing but was still trying to shield corrupt for keeping their numbers intact.
There were a number of files pertaining to bureaucrats pending with General Administration Department (GAD) who during their tenure had effected misappropriation of funds and involved in different scams like Gulmarg land scam but the chief minister Omar Abdullah who is incharge of the department is silent on the issue and instead of giving sanction for prosecution against such officials he preferred the closure of a case against a sitting minister involved in backdoor appointments terming it as a passé.
Addressing the convention Former Minister and MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma said that Congress stands for decentralization of powers and it was towards this end that Panchayat elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir State during the coalition regime. He said that this was the beginning of new era and elected Sarpanches and Panches should now be given complete powers so that they could prioritize the development of their villages.
Mr. Sharma said congress would continue to fight for implementation of 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in the state.
“Congress is struggling hard to ensure that the local bodies in the state are empowered to ensure the development at the grass root level.” Former Minister added.
“It was dream of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to empower Panchayati Raj Institutions by implementing 73rd constitution amendment all over the country. The party is working to fulfill his dream,” he said.
Addressing the convention Sr. Congress leader Aga Syed Muhsin expressed full support and solidarity with Mr. Vakil for his crusade against corruption.
Besides others who addressed the gathering include MLC Haji Ali Mohammad Bhat, General Secretary J&K PCC Dr. Abdul Ahad Yatoo, Sr. Congress Leader Ghualm Ahmad Lone and several others.
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