Harsh urges Governor to probe the loot, plunder of State resources by ministers

 STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Alleging unabated abuse of the State exchequer by the helmsmen, Harsh Dev Singh Chairman JKNPP and former Minister has reiterated his demand for a probe into the loot and plunder of public resources by certain ministers and bureaucrats who were squandering public money unmindful of the tribulations and miseries faced by the common masses of the State.
Making a particular mention of the latest episode wherein several Ministers of ruling alliance including Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh participated in the wedding ceremony of MoS, he questioned the open defiance of the prevalent norms and procedures by the said Ministers in using the State Helicopter to join a marriage ceremony and ‘Barat’. Reminding the coalition partners of their persistent attacks on their predecessors for abuse of public funds and state chopper, Harsh maintained that never had a situation occurred in the erstwhile government where state choppers were used by Ministers or their spouses for marriages or private functions. He said that not only were the state choppers and govt. vehicles used for personal trips and marriage and other private functions but the Ministers were reportedly drawing TA and DA also for attending such functions.
Besides, the Ministers directed their subordinates to send all their official as well as security vehicles to Kishtwar by road. A huge cavalcade of around 200 vehicles with 3-4 official vehicles of each of the ‘flying’ Ministers and government vehicles of other officers reached Kishtwar consuming fuel worth several lakhs borne by the State exchequer to satisfy the ego of the said VVIPs.
He said that it was highly preposterous that the ruling Ministers who were flaunting good governance and accountability as their agenda of alliance were indulging in the worst kind of financial misdemeanor.
He said that the tall slogans of accountability and transparency by Saffron Ministers had not only disappeared from their discourse but had faded into the oblivion with the said Ministers openly squandering public money deliriously unmindful of the woes of the common man.
He said that while the liabilities of contractors and other executing agencies worth hundreds of crores were burgeoning every month, the wages of daily rated, casual workers, ReTs and other categories remained unpaid for months, the Coalition Ministers were organizing private trips and personal functions at State expense besides indulging in financial irregularities of varied nature. He regretted that while the public exchequer was being plundered, the poor farmers were being paid compensation ranging from Rs. 47 to Rs.200 for loss of their crops thus playing a cruel joke with the farming community. He once again condemned the use of public funds for personal glory by the Ministers in publishing their photographs in official advertisements in violation of Supreme Court orders.
He further sought a probe into the Rs. 500 crore expenditure incurred out of public exchequer for providing security, residential guards, escorts, perks and fuel to separatists and other Hurriyat leaders.
Rebuking the present dispensation for financial irregularities and loot and plunder of tax payers’ money, Singh maintained that the coalition government’s criticism of its predecessors merely amounted to pot calling the kettle black.
Seeking intervention of the Governor, Singh demanded a probe into the illegitimate and insidious abuse of public exchequer and initiation of appropriate penal and other legal proceedings against the delinquents.