STATE TIMES NEWS
KISHTWAR: Taking strong note over the reports of growing ‘Mafia culture’ in Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Department, JKPCC Vice President and Congress MLA G.M Saroori on Sunday strongly castigated the officials of CAPD department for their allege involvement in open corruption added that people, particularly the dealers are complaining him about increase in corruption in department wherein it was allege that the officials of the department are ‘Hands in glove’ in promoting Corruption’ and ‘Harassment’ related cases.
Saroori alleged that ration dealers for no ‘Legitimate’ reasons are being harassed and summoned at Director Office by Deputy Director on one or other pretext and fake accusations were leveled against them just for minting money from them thereby causing harassment to them both mentally and physically as well.
Saroori further said that it is highly regretful that on finding no way to ‘Mint’ money from the ‘Non-erring’ ration dealers the senior officials ‘Suspend’ there license illegally and then demanded huge ‘Monetary Favour’ to get the license revoked added that the practice is hazardously encouraging the ‘Corruption Mafia Culture’ in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Such humiliation and harassment on the non-erring ration dealers of the state by corrupt officials of their own department is the alarm ahead of danger”, said Saroori.
Saroori further stated that another glaring example of Corruption in CAPD department can be gauged from the fact that the families which were earlier having Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards are now being issued Above Poverty Line (APL) ration card and the rich and wealthy families which were having APL Ration Cards are now being given BPL Ration Cards in utter violation of norms, which Saroori claimed be an ‘Unjustice’ with the poor and Nomads of state.
“I’m astonished to know as to what criteria has been laid down by the CAPD Department to decide for the allotment of ration cards to the families, as BPL families are placed in APL and APL in BPL families which is a thing that needed to be taken seriously”, Saroori said in agony.
Saroori has urged the State Vigilance Commissioner (SVC) to enquiry into the allegations made by the ration dealers and poor families and handle the corrupt and erring officials with iron hands so that it could serve lesson to all the corrupt officials of the state in future.
“We can’t see all this as mute spectators. I have conveyed to State Vigilance Commissioner regarding all the issue, and we are hopeful that such officials would be dealt with iron hands “, Saroori assured to hapless ration dealers.