SRINAGAR : Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly speaker Mubarak Gul today directed Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate multi-crore land scam in south Kashmir district of Anantnag. Mr Gul also directed the investigation agency to seize all the documents related to the scam and present them to him before the start of the Question-Hour tomorrow, the last day of the session of the House.
The issue was raised by Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni of opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), whose name also figured in the list of land grabbers at Marhama in Anantnag Assembly constituency.
He said the name of PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was also there but he wanted to clear his position since there is no need to give any certificate to former chief minister who is known in the country for his honesty. “Sir I seek justice from the chair as my name has been shown among the land grabbers,” he pleaded and said “I will resign if it is proved that I have a single marlas of land anywhere in the state.”
He appealed to Speaker to call the report so that justice could be done.
However, he was challenged by Higher Education minister Mohammad Akbar Lone and alleged that PDP was a party of land grabbers, evoking massive protests from PDP members. Mr Lone said the House wanted to know who the signatory was of Marhama land deal when the land belongs to government. Demanding an inquiry, the minister said forged documents have been prepared to generate money for Assembly elections for PDP.
Another minister Sakina Itoo, supported Mr Lone and appealed to Speaker to call record of the land deal and order an inquiry.
Leader of the opposition in the House Abdul Rehman Veeri the land under discussion was in his constituency. It is a Rs 4 crore project and the House wanted to know how gave orders for earth filling of the land when it was a wetland. Rural development minister Ali Mohammad Sagar intervened and said the Upper House had already directed state Chief Secretary to conduct inquiry into the matter. Government has also ordered a probe into the scam, he said.
Revenue minister Ajaz Ahmad Khan said the matter was raised in the Upper House by Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri yesterday and about 400 kanals of land was grabbed from Sangam to Khanabal.
He said it was not a wetland and fraud documents have beeen prepared by land grabbers.
“Let me see the probe findings, of Chief Secretary and see the proceedings of the Upper House,” Speaker said adding he will constitute a three member House committee to conduct inquiry.
Deputy Speaker said all the records should be called and he was ready for inquiry.
Parliamentary affairs minister Saifullah Mir demanded that Chair should direct the government to make a statement on the issue in the House tomorrow.
However, independent member Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid stormed into the Well of the House alleging that he was not being allowed to speak by the chair. He keep shouting which was not audible.
Later, Er Rashid was marshalled out from the House after he continued raising slogans in the Well. Mr Akbar Lone said since one day of this session is left, the House Committee will take time. “Let the chair direct Inspector General of Crime Branch to investigate the land scam..seize all the documents and present them to House before Question-Hour tomorrow.” The CB be directed to conduct the inquiry within 15 days, he suggested.
Agreeing with the suggestion, Speaker Mr Gul said he was directing the Crime Branch to investigate the entire scam. Cover everything, including the points raised by the opposition, he said and directed the CB to seize the documents and present them to him before the Question-Hour tomorrow.
(AGENCIES)
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