Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked Centre to conduct an inquiry into the accusations made by former Army chief General V K Singh against Ministers in Jammu and Kashmir.
While speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a function held here, Omar said: “As far as the issue is concerned my Government, as well as my party, has expressed concern about what former Army General has said. I believe these revelations, I don’t call them as revelations, I call them accusations, I believe these accusations can’t be dismissed out of hands. They require further investigation.”
He said that he has taken up the issue with the Centre. “This matter has been taken up formally by me with Government of India for further action. Beyond that it is not appropriate for me to talk about the issue,” he added.
“I am taking up the issue with Government of India for further action. I think GoI needs to come clean on this, otherwise all mainstream politicians are being looked with suspicion. It is very unfair. The majority of mainstream politicians have no financial dealings with the Army. Therefore this accusation that all Ministers since 1947 have taken money from Army needs a threadbare inquiry and whatever the findings should be shared with us”, said Omar.
The Chief Minister said that they have no financial dealing with the Army and in fact Singh’s accusations have made working of mainstream parties in Kashmir valley difficult. “With this one statement the General has done nothing more than creating untold problems for mainstream parties particularly those operating in Kashmir”, he added.
“We have no financial dealings with the Army. His accusations have made our jobs more difficult and have dealt a blow to the credibility of the people working in my Government and other mainstream political parties, particularly those operating in Kashmir,” said Omar.
The Chief Minister said that he has taken the issue of his senior Cabinet colleague with the Congress party. “Ghulam Hassan Mir is a Congress Minister in the Government, I have taken up the issue with Congress leadership. Let them decide what they will do against Mir,” he added.
Mir is being accused of getting money from Army’s secret unit to topple the State Government.
Mir today broke silence and in a statement issued here said that efforts are being made to dent his integrity and demanded a time-bound probe into it.
“If a fair probe is held, the truth will come out and I will stand vindicated. Therefore, I offer myself to an open and time bound probe to look into these allegations,” said the Minister.
Mir said that he is relying on power of his people who elected him several times. “More than anyone else, I myself want that everybody should know that Ghulam Hassan Mir is absolutely relying on power and support of his own people and wholeheartedly working for them. I want to reassure the people of J&K that I am only and only guided by their interests of safety, security and welfare,” he said.
The Minister said that concerted efforts are being made to dent his political integrity and popularity. “The allegations levelled recently are politically motivated and are absolutely false. I had been keeping quiet over the controversies raked in the past few days, but now I want to speak out as these controversies have not only sought to besmirch my personal reputation but also humiliated people with whose support I am where I am,” he added.
Mir said he has been elected to the State Assembly and been a Minister three times since 1984. “No agency or institution can create popularity. I am neither a man of agencies or any institution,” he added.
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