Congress demands MoS PMO’s resignation
Northlines Correspondent
Jammu Tawi, May 4: Giving an interim rest to the controversies related to illegal mining in Jammu and Kashmir, the J&K Government has constituted a four-member committee to dig into the allegation of illegal mining and to examine the issues of activities/operations of Stone Crushers units around river Tawi in violation of directions of J&K High Court.
The Govt. Order No. 15-MNG dated 04.05.2021 said that the committee is comprised of OP Bhagat, Director Geology Mining as Chairman and RC Kotwal, Director Finance-I&C, Dr. Raj Kumar, Incharge Deputy Director, Geology and Mining Department and Romesh Gandotra Assistant Mining Engineer as nominated members. According to the terms of reference notified, the committee will go into details of allegations of high-handedness of the Geology & Mining Department and other details pertaining to the issues of illegal mining in Tawi River in context of High Court directions. The Committee that has to submit its report within a week’s time would also to suggest measures to curb all malpractices with respect to mining and processing of river bed material from Tawi River and also to suggest regulated mining and disposal of river bed material to prevent flash flood incidents.
Congress demands resignation
The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Union Minister of State in PMO, Jatinder Singh and a high-level probe into corruption and ‘Hafta-Vassooli’ allegations leveled against him by BJP leader and former MLC Vikram Randhawa.
The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) too demanded an impartial probe into the matter.
The J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also took strong exception to the allegations leveled by Randhawa and sought the resignation of Singh pending a high-level probe.
“The serious allegations of ”hafta-culture” under the patronage of higher-ups need a probe. Let the law of land and propriety take its course,” the JKPCC said in a statement. It said a high-level probe is a must to expose the alleged nexus.
“This is a test case for Modi government and the UT Administration and heads should roll to send a clear message otherwise, people will further lose faith in the system,” the statement said.
On Tuesday, a group of Congress workers led by its youth wing president, Uday Bhanu Chib staged a protest in Jammu to press for the Minister’s resignation.
“Randhawa’s sensational disclosure removed the lid on the nexus between the mining mafia and the BJP. There should be a high-level probe into the allegations” Chib told reporters.
Earlier, Congress councillor Gaurav Chopra alleged that the auctioning of minerals and wine shops was a well-planned conspiracy to loot the locals.
Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) provincial president and former minister Manjit Singh too demanded an impartial probe being imperative to uncover the alleged involvement of the Union minister and mining officials.
“A probe is must to expose the mining mafia and their associates that ultimately compelled a former legislator of the ruling political party to speak publicly against his own party leaders, mining department officials and police department,” he said.
“Families of local miners have been suffering due to this nexus, which works in a well-organised manner. We will not allow the mining mafia to flourish in J&K,” the JKAP leader added.
Meanwhile, Jitendra Singh has sent today his Lawyer’s notice to Vikram Randhawa for tendering an unconditional apology within 24 hours failing which legal proceedings for criminal defamation and for damages for Rs. One Crore would be initiated by him. Besides apology, Jitendra’s Advocate from Delhi, Mr. Jeevesh Nagrath in his notice also called upon Randhawa to issue a public statement to the media withdrawing all the allegations made without any basis and are factually incorrect.
BJP’s former MLC & J&K state Secretary Randhawa, who is the President of Stone Crusher Owners Association has levelled serious allegations against Singh’s office in Jammu and few civil and police officers of their involvement in monthly extortion of money and patronising mining mafia and also threatened to immolate himself if the high-handedness of the mining department did not stop.
The party’s Disciplinary Committee served Randhawa a show-cause notice, hours after he went public against the union minister while Randhawa said that he has not even uttered a single word against his party and urged that the party should not coverup the misdeeds of any individual.
