Akshay Azad
JAMMU, Dec 11: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma today launched a veiled attack on those, who are advocating for special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of Indian Constitution.
Addressing a press conference, organized by his department, to sensitize masses about Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU), Sham Lal Sharma made an oblique reference of Article 370 and without naming anyone, castigated those who have been advocating for Article 370.
"A lone, Jharkhand based Non Governmental Organization (NGO) was allotted entire work under CCDU, which involves funds to the tune of several Crores. At one hand some people are talking of Article 370 and on the other hand, how a Jharkhand based NGO was allotted work", he jibed, while responding to a query regarding, action taken against those involved in embezzlement of funds under CCDU, during the tenure of former Minister of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control.
He further said that the administrative enquiry report has been submitted by the department to Crime Branch, which would take further course of action. Sharma further said that to bring transparency in CCDU, only state run NGOs would be involved.
Responding to a query regarding recent direction of Supreme Court, restricting use of Red lights over vehicles, Sharma welcomed the decision of Supreme Court and said that the Ministers and public representatives were for convenience of masses and not for their inconvenience.
In response to another question about anticipated threat to Congress party following the victory of Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi elections, Sharma said that the issues for contesting Assembly and Lok Sabha elections were quite different. "It is the beauty of democracy that anyone could contest and win elections. We should respect the mandate of electorate and the party which has got majority should form the Government", he said.
Responding to a query about recent statement of Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, in which he had made it clear that he would not contest Lok Sabha elections from Doda-Udhampur-Kathua constituency, Sham Lal Sharma said that Congress was a disciplined party and leadership shall take a call on Chief Ministerial candidate of the party.
Regarding implementation of 73rd amendment of Panchayati Raj in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma said that the report of Coordination Committee constituted by State Government, which was assigned the job to look into the viable provisions of 73rd amendment, which would be implemented in state, was discussed in last Cabinet meeting. "All the Cabinet Ministers have agreed to accept the recommendations of Coordination Committee and the memo file would be tabled in next Cabinet meeting", he said, and hoped that the provisions would be implemented soon. |
