Srinagar: More than 10 former ministers and former BJP legislators are among the politicians residing “without authorization” in bungalows and ministerial quarters in Jammu and Kashmir. This revelation takes on more significance as it is closed in the immediate aftermath of the BJP’s concerted campaign targeting regional party leaders in Kashmir for “profiting” from the Roshini land law.
Details of the “squatters” of government facilities have come to light after the Jammu and Kashmir Property Department filed an affidavit in the high court.
According to the affidavit filed by the probate department on October 2, several politicians, including former ministers, reside on government property as of September 2, beyond the adjudication period.
The department also alleged that it has discussed the matter with the department of origin to determine if they need accommodation for security reasons.
“Once comments are received from the Department of the Interior, appropriate action will be taken on the matter,” reads the affidavit filed by Muhammad Alyas Khan, Deputy Director of Estates.
Following the rule book, former ministers or legislators are not entitled to government accommodations under normal circumstances.
The list of “unauthorized” occupiers includes politicians from different parties, including the BJP, the National Conference, the Popular Democratic Party (PDP), among others.
According to the affidavit, more than 10 former BJP, former MLA and MLC ministers are on the list of those residing in ministerial bungalows in addition to occupying type A, B and C accommodation in Srinagar and Jammu.
High-profile BJP leaders residing in government quarters include Ravinder Raina (J&K Unit Chairman) and Kavinder Gupta (former Senior Deputy Minister and Assembly Chairman).
In addition to Kavinder Gupta, five other BJP leaders who were ministers in the last elected government of the former Jammu and Kashmir state reside in bungalows and government quarters, the affidavit reveals.
They are Sunil Sharma, Shakti Raj Parihar, Sat Sharma, Sukhnandan Choudhary, and Bali Baghat.
Former party lawmakers on the list include Neelam Langeh (ex-MLA), Daleep Singh Parihar (ex-MLA), RS Pathania (ex-MLA), Rajesh Gupta (ex-MLA), Vibodh Gupta (ex-MLC) , Pradeep Sharma (ex-MLC), Ashok Khajuria (ex-MLC) and Vikram Randhwa (ex-MLC).
Aside from former ministers and legislators, some of its lower-ranking leaders also reside in government facilities.
However, Estates Deputy Director Alyas Muhammad Khan said that Ashok Khajuria and Shakti Parihar left the government houses in which they lived.
Talking to The wireKavinder Gupta claimed that no one lives in government accommodation without authorization.
“Everybody is paying the rent. We live in government neighborhoods due to a security threat. I don’t think there will be any problem to reside in the government neighborhoods until the constitution of the next assembly, ”he said, adding that they have not received any notification from the government to vacate the neighborhoods.
He said that the government must evict those who have not held the position of MLA / MLC and reside in neighborhoods because of their “influence.”
Others on the list
The leaders of other political parties, including the National Conference, the PPD, Congress, the Apni Party, the Peoples’ Conference and the Panther Party, are also on the list.
According to the estate department, the family of the late GM Shah (former chief minister), Choudhary Lal Singh (former minister), GM Saroori (former minister), Muhammad Shafi Uri (former MLA), Vikar Rasool Wani (former MLA), Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar (ex MLA), Zafar Iqbal Manhas (ex MLC), Prof Bhim Singh (ex MLC, sub-judice), Ravinder Sharma (ex MLC, sub-judice), Tariq Ahmed Keen (politician), Muhammad Sultan Mandoo ( politician), Wazira Begum (district president, Congress), Shilpi Verma (politician), Hasina (politician), Shafiq Mir (president of the Panchyat Conference) and Manohar Lal (general secretary, BJP) reside in the government offices of Jammu ” without authorization “.
Those with government / private accommodation in Sriangar are: Hakim Muhammad Yasin (former minister), Ghulam Nabi Lone (former minister), Syed Farooq Andrabi (former minister), Zahoor Ahmed Mir (former minister), Muhammad Khalil Bandh ( former Minister), Nazir Ahmed Khan (former Vice President), Missing MS Pandit Puri (former MLA), Aijaz Ahmed Mir (former MLA), Ali Muhammad Dar (former MLC), Bashir Ahmed Dar (former MLA), Mustaq Ahmad Shah (former MLA), Showkat Hussain Ganie (ex MLC), Mohd Altaf Wani (ex MLA), Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri (ex MLC), Vikram Randhawa (ex MLC), Haji Abdul Rashid (ex MLA), Yasir Reshi (ex MLC) , Abdul Rahim Rather (ex MLA), Mohd Yousuf Bhat (ex MLA), Muhammad Amin Bhat (ex MLA), Shamima Firdous (ex MLA), Muhammad Abbas (ex MLA), Raja Manzoor (ex MLA) Abdul Rahim Rather (ex minister), Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan (former minister), Mustaq Ahmed Tantray (political activist), Reyaz Ahmed Mir (political activist), Nazir A hmad Malik (political activist), Zahid Hussain Jan (political activist), S S Chani (political activist), Parveen Lone (political activist), Maqsood Indrabi (political activist), Muhammad Yousaf (political activist), GM Sheikh (political activist), Abdul Gani Vakil (former minister), Bashir Ahmed Mir (corporate, Municipal Corporation from Srinagar), Sonaullah Lone (political activist), Nasir Khan (ex MLC), Nizam-ud-Din Bhat (ex MLA), Rafi Ahmed Mir (ex MLA), Shoaib Ahmed Lone (ex MLA) and Syed Muhammad Rafiq Shah ( ex MLC).
Changes in government housing
It is worth mentioning that the central government led by the BJP had withdrawn the advantages and privileges of the former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir on March 31 by amending a law through an executive order.
The Home Office repealed Section 3-C of the State Legislature Members’ Pensions Act 1984, according to which the former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir were entitled to different privileges and advantages.
Privileges included furnished accommodation without rent, expenses up to the limit of Rs 35,000 per year to furnish the residential accommodation, free phone calls up to the value of Rs 48,000 per year, free electricity up to the limit of Rs 1,500 per month, car, gasoline, medical facilities, driver, among others.
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