ISHTIYAQ AHMAD
EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, June 15: The Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Migrant Kashmiri Pandits has rejected the inquiry committee set up by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to investigate the “scam of Rs 2,340 crores”.
“We had brought the scam to light on May 17 in a press conference. We had even given documentary proof, which showed how political activists of the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and Congress were getting monthly monetary benefits from the government exchequer from the share meant for the persecuted members of the Kashmiri Pandit community. We had sought an investigation by the CBI or the ACB. Instead, the government has formed an inquiry committee which includes members who were involved in the process of enrolling the activists and disbursing the money to them,” Chairman Reconciliation Return and Rehabilitation, Satish Mahaldar, said in a statement.
The statement says that notification from the Office of the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) Jammu, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, dated June 11, 2020, has ordered “the internal audit of Zonal/camp offices by a committee”. “As per the order, a five member committee will conduct the detailed audit of the official record pertaining to the cash assistance, ration, inclusion/deletion, bifurcation, cashbook, cash A/c, etc. and will submit a detailed report.
We totally reject this committee. How can justice be expected from those people who were very much part of the scam? It seems that the committee has been made to cover up the scam. It also is very clear that the government is not sincere to give justice to the wronged,” he said.
“Ethically what should have been spent on the relief and rehabilitation of the persecuted has been mischievously and deliberately given to the undeserving. The question is how a person living comfortably in his home in Kashmir can be given free money which should have gone to the homeless, needy, poor and uprooted Kashmiri Pandits. Is this not a crime towards humanity? Should those responsible not be exposed and punished?” the statement reads.
“This inquiry committee is a total cover up, whose objective seems to not get the real culprits exposed. This also shows the apathetic attitude of those in the governance in the state. We reiterate our demand for an independent inquiry either by CBI or ACB. The amount involved in the scam is huge and the people involved need to be punished,” the statement reads. |
