| BJP Minister turns trader, resorts to open loot | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 31: In the lust of accumulating more money, a senior BJP Minister has virtually turned into a trader by misusing his official position.
The Minister is learnt to have evolved a new methodology for earning more money by forcing the contractors to purchase sand and crushed stones besides tiles only from his factory.
In addition to the fixed percentage of commission against the allotment of developmental works, purchasing of sand and crushed stones from this minister besides cement tiles from his unit are pre-conditions for the contractors to secure a job work in his constituency.
While a number of cement tile units, established in Jammu are running in losses and a few have been virtually closed due to stiff market competition, this minister has recently established two more units of tiles in addition to his existing one because of forced sale to the contractors.
While market rate of the tiles is around Rs 10 per piece, the contractors are forced to purchased the tiles from the Minister's unit at the rate of Rs 24 per piece, sources said adding that similar is the case with sand and crushed stones, which are also sold on more than double the market rates.
The contractors, who refuse to purchase these items on double rate s, are not allotted the job works and further harassed through different means, sources added.
Even as some contractors has brought the matter into the notice of the BJP top leadership, no action has been initiated in this regard with the result that poor contractors are forced either to remain jobless or submit to open loot of the minister. |
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