| Furious over demolition of sons' shops, BJP 'minister' turns stone pelter | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 19: Vice-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Kuldeep Gupta who holds the status of a Minister of State in the Jammu and Kashmir government was today caught on cameras picking up a stone to hit the officials who were demolishing the shops of his sons during an anti encroachment drive in Rajouri.
Kuldeep Raj Gupta picked up a stone, apparently to attack police and officials of the state government, after two shops owned by his sons were demolished during an anti-encroachment drive in Rajouri town.
The shops owned by Gupta's sons Vijay and Dheeraj were among 73 structures, including 24 shops and 59 extensions, to be demolished during the anti-encroachment drive against structures that allegedly encroached upon a busy road and violated Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Ribbon Development Act.
Sources said that on being informed about the demolition of shops owned by his sons, Gupta reached the spot and started arguing with the officials. As the anti-encroachment drive continued, he picked up a stone to attack them, but policemen accompanying the officials intervened.
He was later pacified by the officers of district administration.
Gupta however maintained he had picked up the stone to hit himself. "I was so perturbed that I picked up a stone to hit my own head. However, people with vested interests projected it as if I wanted to throw stones at the police'' Gupta said.
He accused the administration of demolishing his sons' shops in violation of law, saying that 408 sq ft of land on the roadside had been leased out to them by the administration during the Governor's rule in 1990.
"I was at the residence of Deputy Commissioner. When I asked him about the demolition drive, he assured that my sons' shops will not be touched,'' Gupta said. The drive follows instructions from CM Mehbooba Mufti during her public outreach programme on December 23 wherein several deputations from Rajouri town approached her demanding removal of encroachment. |
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