By JKGN Desk
JAMMU: Popping up of land scams one after another involving senior BJP leader is earning bad name not only for the party but also the impeccable image of their leader PM Narinder Modi who vouched stoutly for ‘Naa Khauooun Gha, Naa Khanei Doongha’.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has vociferously highlighting the alleged involvement of former Dy CM Prof Nirmal Singh and Former Minister Ganga for their unlawful activities in land related issues in Nagrota and Samba district respectively.
Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney raising question over silence of state administration over illegal construction of the residential bungalow being raised by ex-Deputy CM Nirmal Singh on disputed land with the Indian Army and seeked enquiry in the matter.
The construction of this palatial bungalow in Nagrota by the said BJP leader has been under the scrutiny of the public eye since 2018, when the top BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta, purchased a vast peice of land through one company namely ‘Himgiri Infrastructure Development.
The land is situated right next to the Army’s ammunition depot in Nagrota. Sawhney accused the BJP of putting national security in peril and asked why has the construction of such a property been allowed even after the Army personnel had expressed its apprehensions time and again.
Demanding enquiry, Sawhney urged the Governor G.C. Murmu to get to the bottom of matter which include many senior BJP leaders involved in land grabbing cases.
The government must set up one- man Commission including a sitting HC Judge to conduct a formal enquiry to reveal the Himgiri Infrastructure Development Case in a timely bound manner, asserted Sawhney.
He also urged the administration to find out how many BJP leaders have occupied lands by sheer political force and power.
BJP leaders in J&K have been increasingly named in land dispute cases and the recent complaint filed by the ex-Deputy CM showcases their fears of being exposed and their futile attempts to regain control over their lies which have been uncovered, alleged Sawhney.
In 2018 itself after a petition, which was filed by the Indian Army in the J&K High Court against such construction, the High Court had directed the authorities to follow the guidelines of the Defense Act, which prohibits such constructions. Even that did not stop the BJP leaders from continuing the construction work against judicial orders. If this doesn’t show abuse of power, then what does?”, commented Sawhney.
“The former Minister is constructing his dream house in Nagrota while forgetting his duties as a public person and as a citizen.
The land on which the mentioned property stands clearly comes under that jurisdiction where construction is prohibited. The Defence Act prohibits any Construction within prescribed distances from the Army depot for security reasons. This implies that the construction is not only objectionable but also illegal.”, Stated Sawhney.
“BJP has become the new land mafia in J&K. Many senior reputed leaders are using their political stature in the state to acquire benefits” said Sawhney.
According to a 2015 notification, any constructions in the concerned area required the permission of the Commanding Officer.
It is alleged that the BJP leader misused his power to illegally acquire land which violated certain provisions of the Defense Act. Sawhney said,
“Firstly, the house constructed is in close vicinity of army’s ammunition depot and stands in violation of the defense act. So, the illegal construction should have stopped by the authorities. Secondly, all the evidence suggesting the illegality of the act lies in public domain already.”
He also condemned the complaint lodged against prominent Advocate Sheikh Shakeel by ex-Deputy CM Nirmal Singh, stating that “The complaint is completely baselesst and used merely to suppress the voices of those who are exposing the BJP leaders”.