Asks ministers, legislators to set best examples; wows to carry on war against corruption
By News Agency of kashmir
Jammu : Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today announced CBI probe into the killing of former Minister of State, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Lone and arrest of the person who had reportedly made an intimidating call to the mother of legislator, Shoaib Lone for his raising the issue of corruption against a minister in the legislative assembly.
Replying to discussion on the adjournment motion moved by the opposition on Mr. Shoaib Lone’s allegations in the Legislative Assembly here, the Chief Minister said that the attack in which Dr. Lone got killed was aimed at the CPI (M) legislator, Mr. M. Y. Tarigami who lived close to the slain minister’s residence. He said while one of the attackers was killed by the armed guard posted at the residence of Mr. Tarigami, four others were arrested. Two Pakistani terrorists involved in the crime could not be arrested. He said all the four arrested persons have admitted to have killed Dr. Lone and also given full account of the conspiracy. He said the government had instituted enquiry into the high profile political killing under the then Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, B. B. Vyas who, before finalizing his report, had met the four arrested persons in the jail to ensure that they had not given their statement before the police under any pressure or duress. However, he said, they stood by their statement and the prosecution had only this month prepared its case which would go to the court now.
The Chief Minister said that since some doubts had been created about the case and since the slain minister’s son and legislator had also expressed doubts about the enquiry and demanded CBI probe into the killing, he discussed with Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Abdul Aziz Zargar the demand for CBI probe and told them that since there was nothing for the government to hide and the accused had admitted to having committed the crime, the demand should be accepted. He said following this, the Deputy Chief Minister made the announcement in the House. He said the CBI would now investigate the killing and see if there was anything more to be looked at. He hoped that this would satisfy the House and the bereaved family of late Dr. Lone.
The Chief Minister said that Mr. Shoaib Lone had informed him that somebody had made an intimidating telephone call to his mother after he raised in the House the issue of corruption against a minister and his personal staff. He said the person who made the call had been arrested, adding that Mr. Lone confirmed he was the person who had demanded and taken bribe from him to process his sister’s case. He said action against the accused would be taken under the law and if found guilty, he would not be spared. He said it would be also looked into whether the accused had taken the bribe at his own level or accepted it for somebody else. He said in case it was found that he was working as a conduit then the person for whom the bribe money was taken would also face the music.
The Chief Minister reiterated his firm commitment to fight corruption in the State and said nothing could weaken his resolve. He said he had made his intentions to wage war against corruption clear the day he came to Jammu and Kashmir to assume the responsibilities of the government. He recalled that on the day of filing his nomination papers as a candidate for Bhadarwah assembly constituency, he had been advised not to speak against militancy and corruption in case he wanted to win at the hustings. He said he was told that if he did, the militants would not let elections take place and government employees would go against him. He said since his politics was based on principles which he would never compromise with, he made his first speech after filing nomination papers against militancy and corruption. He said if compromises were made on basic issues then one had no right to be in politics or claim to be working for the people.
The Chief Minister said that there would be no let up in the fight against corruption and anybody, irrespective of position or status, found guilty would be proceeded against. He asked the legislators and ministers to be more cautious as people’s confidence in them was directly linked with their conduct. He said he had announced award and cash prize for whistle blowers helping the government in combating corruption, adding that this was not restricted to corruption by government officials alone. He said solid complaints against Chief Minister, Ministers and legislators also come under its ambit. He said if one public representative was accused of corruption the prestige of the entire fraternity is lowered in the public eye. He said ministers and legislators were in the constant public gaze and whatever they did was watched by people. He asked them to set best examples of themselves. He said if they receive any complaint against their staff it should be thoroughly investigated.
The Chief Minister, emphasizing on the point that personal staff, relatives and family members were often the cause for embarrassment for public men, said that as minister in the union cabinet he had written to the successive Chief Ministers of J&K not to entertain any recommendation from his relatives and when he became the Chief Minister two years ago, he issued similar instructions to the officers. He said despite being union minister for several years, no officer could claim that he knew his family members as they had not met any of them. There was a clear line drawn between office and family, he added. He said he followed the same principle here also.