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| SMC Mayor, 60 other Corporators go on hunger strike, demand removal of JCP | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 27: Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu and 60 other Corporators have gone on an indefinite hunger strike in this summer capital on Thursday, demanding removal of Joint Commissioner Planning (JCP) for alleged corruption and inefficiency.
The Corporators led by Mr Mattu, who is the youth president of Apni Party, sat on an indefinite hunger strike outside the SMC office against the Joint Commissioner Planning, who according to them is 'patronizing illegal constructions and is openly defaming SMC'.
"All the SMC Corporators, including Mayor and Deputy Mayor, today sat on an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the JCP, who is sitting on files and undermining our authority," Mohammad Ashraf, a Corporator from Eidgah told UNI.
"During our tenure, we generated revenue to the tune of Rs 12 crore for construction permissions in the city, against Rs 3 crore during the year before that? He doesn't give permission in genuine cases? he keeps the files pending on his table and when we intervene, he humiliates us," he alleged.
He said all the Corporators passed a resolution, which was then presented to the SMC Commissioner, seeking the removal of JCP. "But as no action was taken against the JCP, we were forced to go on a strike as we have to mitigate the problems of the people, who have elected us," he said.
Meanwhile, taking to micro-blogging site twitter, Mr Mattu said today's indefinite hunger strike by 61 elected representatives of Srinagar should serve as an eye-opener. "An inefficient and corrupt Jt. Commissioner Planning (who has already been relieved by elected Corporation) is patronizing illegal constructions and is openly defaming SMC," he wrote.
"I'll share proofs of corruption, forgery and distortion of official documents done by the said officer with the public in the next two days. Every officer who torments people and vilifies politicians isn't a saint - as much as he fits into your agenda," he added.
In a series of tweets, Mr Mattu on Wednesday lashed out at JCP for allegedly defaming the elected body by obnoxious allegations and gas-lighting. "Ease with which a corrupt, thoroughly inept Joint Commissioner (Planning) of the SMC can defame an entire elected body by obnoxious allegations and gaslighting should be a matter of concern for the Administration and a red-flag for the subversion of elected institutions," he wrote on Wednesday.
He said not only has Joint Commissioner (Planning) committed forgery, bent rules in grant of select commercial permissions (while tormenting thousands of ordinary poor citizens for grant of genuine permissions) - he has embarked on a journey to defame those who question his sadism.
"The elected Corporation of SMC has repeatedly flagged the Joint Commissioner (Planning)'s aberrant ways and is well within statutory rights to seek his removal. His removal has absolutely nothing to do with the enforcement of master plan in Srinagar," he said.
Mattu said it is primarily because of his failure as Joint Commissioner (Planning) in dispensing basic duties that illegal constructions are being encouraged and incentivized. "The Mayor, Deputy Mayor or the elected Corporators play no role in grant of permissions or enforcement," he said.
He alleged that there are irrefutable proofs of his (JCP's) corrupt practices. "Numerous building permission applicants have filed written complaints alleging extortion from him! Said officer cannot hide behind a smokescreen to torment the resident of Srinagar and in turn defame and vilify them," he said.
"I didn't want to comment on this administrative matter and simply forwarded a joint representation from 61 elected representatives to the Govt - as is mandated by the statute. Sadly the officer has again chosen to be a politician and given an absolutely obnoxious interview," Mr Mattu said.
"Strange times. For an officer to abuse and demonize elected institutions at will and whim - with such ease -- God help democratic institutions in J&K! The elected Corporation will not only stay the course in seeking his removal but also approach the Hon'ble Courts now," he wrote.
"The Corporation has rejected his continuance in SMC with full statutory validity. His efforts to discredit an elected body are unacceptable," he added. |
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