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| Govt to lodge FIR against high profile NGO, individuals | | Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) Scam | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 23: FIRs would be lodged against Individuals as well as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in the infamous Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS) admission scam.
This is what Minister for Higher Education Mohammed Akbar Lone was compelled to announce by the legislators in the upper house of the state legislature. They unanimously raised the issue of certain NGOs, Private Organisations and individuals having duped several thousand youngsters of money worth lakhs on the pretext of getting them admitted in various prestigious institutions of the country under the Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme (PMSS).
Lone who was responding to supplementaries of legislators created a stir when he said that CID as well as police failed to locate individuals as well as NGOs who got these children admitted, most of whom were not even eligible. He went on and said that since they could be located, FIR was not lodged. "They could not be located. So, against whom should we have lodged FIR," Lone sought to clarify.
When NC MLC Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy pointed out that he has the details of the individuals as well as NGOs who allegedly played middleman. Lone retorted and change stance. He now said that these NGOs are run by individuals who have blessings from the higher-ups in power. "Those in the higher echelons of power are connected with those running these NGOs. They remain close to power and have the sole intent of committing frauds," added Suharwardhy.
NC MLC Devinder Rana intervened and said that if prima facie it has been established that children have been duped on the pretext of getting them admitted in the top institutions of the country, FIR should be lodged and case should be handed over to Crime Branch. Jahangir Mir of Congress referred to Chief Minister's yesterday's speech and said that if the entire house is complaining, why FIR is being delayed in this highly important case.
Another Congress MLC Muzaffar Parray added that the NGO involved is J&K Peace Foundation and the person running it is Fayaz Bhat. "I have given you the name. Now, you should act. Mujhey bhi shawl daala hai ussney," is what Parray said. Lone again said that if the legislator gives us name, we would lodge FIR and act. However, Rana again said that Minister should not hesitate in lodging FIR.
Amid the din came the directions of Chairman Amrit Malhotra who asked the government about reasons for not taking action despite having promised the same several times. At this, Lone reacted and said "I would lodge FIR into this scam immediately after leaving the house. Guilty would not be spared." This pacified the MLCs and the house took up the next question.
The issue was raised by legislators Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Mohammed Muzaffar Parray in a clubbed question. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool who was first to ask supplementary said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had assured probe into this serious issue but we are yet to see any visible progress in the investigations. He added that youngsters have been duped and those responsible are yet to be taken to task.
Earlier, Lone in reply to the question said that state government had no role in implementing the Prime Minister's Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS) neither was any NGO/ Private Organisation authorised for carrying it out.
Minister informed that, from 2014 onwards, the state government would be actively involved in the scheme, so that aspiring students get benefits of scheme under PMSSS. He said during the academic year 2013-14, the AICTE has received 5608 applications, but recommended only 1502 eligible students for Scholarship based on maximum 5 students from a particular College.
Mr. Lone said, on the recommendations made by the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister for clearing scholarship cases of the ineligible students as a onetime relaxation for safeguarding their future, the Inter-Ministerial Committee during its 8th meeting held on 26th November 2013 recommended additional 2245 ineligible candidates for scholarship on the basis of taking into account the relocation proposal as well as financial constraints.
He said, therefore, 3747 (1502+2245) candidates have been recommended for scholarship during the year 2013-14, subject to the condition that in the next academic year the additional students would be relocated to other institutions within the same University (wherever possible) or other University in the region subject to vacancy in the second year and the student having passed the first year, he said.
The Minister said that the matter of NGO's has been viewed seriously and referred to CID for identification of such persons/ NGOs, who got even those students admitted in bulk in various colleges outside the state who did not fulfil the eligibility conditions prescribed in the scheme. The report is awaited and investigation agency has been asked to submit the same to Government. |
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