By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Senior National Conference leader and Leader of Opposition in State Legislative Assembly today asked chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to respond positively to the corruption charges leveled by an independent MLA in the House if government was serious in its `war against corruption’.
“National Conference has been demanding a check on the political corruption, which is rampant in the state from the day, coalition government took over the reign of power”, Mr. Rather told media persons, here today.
Addressing a press conference, he said, the allegations leveled by MLA Sangrama Shoaib Ahmed Lone are serious in nature and government can not sleep over the matter only because fingers have been raised against one of its own ministers.
“An elected representative of the people himself claimed to be one of the victim of corruption in the power corridors”, he said adding, “The shocking revelation made on the floor of the House have to be taken seriously and chief minister should come out with an explanation over the matter, if he was really serious about his so called war on corruption”.
NC, he said, has highlighted the issue of corruption on several occasions on public platform and through media but unfortunately the government `is only feeding people with its hollow slogans’ instead of doing anything on the ground.
“Slogans like `Curbing Corruption is Top priority’ and `Sword against Corruption’ is not in any way going to help the people”, he said.
Mr Rather was of the opinion that chief minister should demonstrate his sincerity by assuring an action against the guilty. “The MLA is ready to reveal the name of the minister if government assures action against the guilty”, he said.
He said that the National Conference has always supported the government in its efforts to check corruption in the state. “When Accountability Bill was brought, my party supported it wholeheartedly”, he said adding, “However, nothing has changed since than and Marz Badta Gaya Joon Joon Dava Ki”.
“We also appreciated when the government sacked some corrupt officials but we had been saying that the menace could be eradicated only when political corruption is checked”.
The Accountability Commission, created by the government, has been rendered functionless today, he said adding, “Number of recommendations were made against the ministers of ruling alliance but government as an alternative is sleeping over the orders only to shield the culprits”.
“Can he (CM) can end corruption by shielding the people involved in corruption” Rather asked adding even Chairman of the Commission was forced to resign by the people in power.