Press trust of india
Srinagar, 30 September
National Conference ministers today moved a privilege motion in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly against former Army Chief V K Singh for making allegations that money was paid to politicians in the state for getting certain jobs done.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saifullah informed the House, which began its autumn session today, that National Conference ministers have moved a privilege motion against Gen Singh.
Speaker Mubarak Gul said he has received the motion and will take a decision after going through it. “I have marked the motion to the Secretary (Legislative Assembly). Once I go through it, I will come back to the House,” he said.
Although the proceedings were limited to obituary references for former legislators and staff of the House who passed away recently, the issue of alleged political payoffs by the Army to politicians in the state dominated the discussions. Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the allegations made by Gen Singh were uppermost in the minds of the members of the House as the former Army chief has put the “esteem of the country, the legislature and its members at stake”.
“This man has to be made to stand before the House and answer (for his claims). Privilege motion is the only way to bring him here and then proceed against him,” Mr Rather said. He said the former Army chief has put the dignity of the Army, which “we believe is apolitical”, at stake.
“Let him give the names” of the politicians who have received money, he said.
“We are requesting the Government of India and the Prime Minister for a thorough probe. There should be a threadbare discussion on it in the House and if anyone has taken money, he should face the music,” he said. A similar privilege motion was moved in the Legislative Council today.
Minister for Planning and Development, Labour and Employment, Ajay Sadhotra informed the Council that NC members Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and Devinder Singh Rana want to move a privilege motion against Gen Singh. The motion was referred to the privilege committee.
Meanwhile, Mr Singh faced fresh trouble with the Supreme Court today taking suo motu cognisance of his remarks against its order on his age row and will hear the contempt case tomorrow.