BJP leaders illegally allowed to retain Estates bungalows: Harsh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 10: Alleging conferment of multifarious facilities by the present regime to Ex-MLAs/Ex-Ministers and even petty workers of BJP to the exclusion of all other political parties, former minister Harsh Dev Singh decried the most glaring example of patronized corruption and mis-rule running in J&K.
He accused the Estates Deptt, Security wing of J&K Police and BJP of misusing the tax-payers’ money in connivance. He further expressed his dismay over the open violation of SOPs and guidelines in the matter of allotment of Government accommodation so as to confer undue and illegitimate benefits upon the political persons owing allegiance to BJP.
“It was shocking to note that BJP leaders who were not holding any position in Government and fell in common man’s category were occupying not only ‘Special Type’, ‘A-type’ Estates mansions but many of them were still living in Ministerial bungalows. And while the opposition leaders including ex-ministers and heads of recognized political parties were hounded out of Estates quarters’ years back through police force, the said BJP workers were allowed to retain the same thereby providing the most glaring example of present Govt’s dictatorial and autocratic policies besides being indicative of patronized corruption in BJP rule”, Harsh Dev asserted.
He said that a reply received by him in response to RTI revealed that several BJP workers have been allotted Estates bungalows which continue to be retained by them in violation of all norms and stipulated procedures. It was further shocking to note that the concerned authorities had allowed the BJP leaders to retain the said accommodation despite orders of their eviction issued by the High Court.
Singh further pointed out that all the Ex-MLAs and Ex-Ministers of BJP were provided security vehicles and security personnel while denying bare minimum security to opposition leaders. He said that the even top leadership of recognized political parties has also been divested of their due security by withdrawing their escorts, vehicles as well as security PSOs despite facing militants’ threats.
Seeking a high level probe into the whole gamut of illegal allotments of Govt bungalows and huge encroachments of Govt lands and properties by BJP leaders, Singh called for punitive action against the officers who were acting more as BJP servants than public servants.