Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 19: While the Minister in-charge PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma today challenged the National Conference legislator, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri from Bijbehara, that he would expose his claim by producing his request letter in the Upper House, seeking transfer of two Junior Engineers and an AEE of his department, the NC member asked the Minister to prove allegations raised against him and get ready to face the privilege motion.
The issue was raised by the NC member (Dr Veeri) immediately after the House commenced its business with the Question Hour. Dr Veeri stood up and addressing the Chairman, claimed that serious allegations were raised by the PHE Minister against him. He said the minister has challenged his integrity and tried to cause damage to his reputation by misleading the House, its members besides the general public.
To cover up the department failures and non deliverance, the Minister has tried to produce misleading information. He said it was responsibility of the Chair to protect the rights of the members and maintain sanctity of this House. Dr Veeri further said that Minister should prove where the FIR has been lodged against him and where he was involved in hijacking of machinery and kidnapping of a driver of his department. NC member claimed that he never went for seeking personal favours for any transfer to the Minister.
The Chairman asked the members to sit down and allow the conduct of proceedings in the House. He said there were rules and he should go by the rules. Giving his ruling, the chairman said if he intends to move privilege motion against Minister, he can go for the same.
Then suddenly, the PHE Minister, Sham Lal who was also sitting in the House stood up and challenged the NC member to bring privilege motion against him. The Minister claimed that he would produce documentary evidence in the form of Dr Veeri’s personal letter, seeking transfers of engineers in the House. The hand writing can also be verified and get examined from the experts, the Minister maintained.
Meanwhile, Dr Veeri in a press conference this afternoon, alleged that PHE Minister has tried to mislead the House and the people just to cover up his failures. He claimed that it has become habit of the Minister to hide his non-performance by scooping too low by leveling false and fabricated allegations against anyone who asks him questions related to public importance. He said Mr Sharma like Ministers are setting unhealthy precedence of intolerant atmosphere within the institution of the highest form of democracy by leveling false allegations.
Dr Veeri further claimed that he never asked Minister for the transfer of any engineer now or even a doctor when he was Health Minster but he just wanted removal of three overstaying engineers in his area because they were mainly responsible for the water crisis in the area. He said bursting on the floor of the House and leveling baseless allegations shows frustration of the Minister and incompetence of the department. The Minister shall have to prove the charges regarding hijacking machinery, kidnapping, black-mailing, FIR or seeking favour from him for choice transfers.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel