Cabinet meeting cancelled as PDP demands removal of CEO SASB
By News Agency of Kashmir,
Srinagar : Resentment of Peoples Democratic Party over the statement of CEO Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Arun Kumar and demand of his removal today forced the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had to cancel the state cabinet meeting, which was scheduled to meet here today.
However, on the demand of PDP ministers the chief minister ordered constitution of a three member committee to examine the audio and visual evidence of the press briefings during which CEO SASB Arun Kumar allegedly leveled serious allegations against the government and PDP ministers.
Well informed sources in the civil secretariat told News Agency of Kashmir that the state cabinet was scheduled to meet here today to discuss some important issues including transfers in the civil administration. The meeting was called at the civil secretariat at 6:30 PM, today.
However, sources said, that the PDP ministers informed the chief minister that they would not attend the meeting until government takes a firm stand against the utterance by Arun Kumar during a press briefing.
Demanding his immediate removal from the post of CEO and initiation of enquiry against him, the PDP ministers, sources said, made it clear that they want nothing short of removal of Kumar.
The Congress ministers on the other hand over also seen together at one of the minister’s office chamber discussing the strategy to be adopted in the meeting and to counter the PDP’s demand.
Sources said that sensing the gravity of the situation the chief minister secretariat cancelled the cabinet meeting.
In the meanwhile, chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has constituted a committee to examine the allegations leveled against Kumar by the PDP ministers. The committee, sources said, has been asked to examine all the evidence of the press briefing so that the exact statement by the CEO can be ascertained.
However, a PDP minister when contacted denied that they intended to boycott the meeting and were demanding removal of the CEO.
“We do not know the reason for the cancellation of the meeting”, he said, on the condition of anonymity, adding that they were served upon with a copy of cancellation letter from the chief minister’s secretariat.