Allegations against power minister

Small conspiracy against me by friends, not enemies: Taj

Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Taj Mohi-ud-Din today

stated that the allegations being leveled against him were part of “small conspiracy hatched not by enemies but by friends both within the party and outside against his person.”

He, however, welcomed the direction of an anti-corruption court here asking the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) to verify the allegations of corruption in Public Health Engineering (PHE) department stating that it would give him the much desired opportunity to defend himself.

Addressing a press conference here this morning, the Minister said he had already directed his officers to provide relevant records to the probing agency adding the same was in line with the government policy of conducting a fair and transparent business.  He said in fact the sequence of leveling allegations started against him when his name figured for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. “When my name figured for the post, my friends may have thought : Is Pai Ilzam to nahin lagte, tau bhi is par ilzam lagado…..yeh tau doston ki meherbani hai….”  Maintaining that he was “thankful” to his friends, he said that his “friends” are both in and outside the party and added, “ I won’t say this is a big conspiracy against me, it is small conspiracy.”

Earlier complimenting the judge and the court for the decision, the Minister said that it had given him an opportunity to prove his point for which the government would provide all facilities to the investigating officers. He requested for completing the probe as fast as possible so that fact and fiction were brought to light. This, he said, would clear the false and malicious impression being created by some vested interests about his integrity, honesty and conduct.

On the charge of diversion of funds under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), Taj clarified that the allocations to Doda district were made well within the ceiling limit of the scheme. He said the allocation to Doda district under the programme was Rs 21 Cr out of which only Rs 18 Cr were released. He said the Minister had the powers to grant extra money to areas or communities like SC/ST or OBC which are lagging in development and without such facilities. He said that the government had the moral duty to reach out to down trodden people and areas for extending benefits and incentives as was mandated by the Constitution as well.

On the specifics of charges levelled, the Minister said many of them occurred much before his taking over as the minister concerned. He said the Rajouri PHE scam occurred in 2007 in which inquiry was initiated by the then Chief Minister and the challans were produced in the court of law. Similarly, he said, the case of Samba PHE Division occurred in 2002-03 and 2004-05 which the Vigilance Organisation was probing. Even some charges levelled against him dated back to 1998, 1997, 1995 and even 1989 much before he became a minister or an MLA, Taj disclosed. He said the probe would give him an opportunity to clear his stand and help in catching hold of the guilty.

The Minister said his performance as a Minister always remained excellent and got praised from one and all from within the assembly and outside, from ruling alliance to the opposition including all the three chief ministers he worked with.

He said during his tenure he had taken many revolutionary steps which would go a long way in strengthening the socio-economic profile of the state. He said some disgruntled elements could not digest this and launched this slanderous campaign.

Replying to a question about leakage of PAC deliberations as carried by a section of media, Taj said proceedings of PAC are conducted in camera and their publication before tabling in the House was an offence on which the Speaker could take action under law. He, however, said the PAC had dropped the para against his department.

Giving, what he said, “factual position on various allegations leveled against him”, he stated that all such relevant news items quoted stood examined.

In case of “Multi-Crore scam in PHE division Rajouri”, the same pertained to the period prior to 2007 and the enquiry was initiated by the then Chief Minister and the challans were produced in the court of law, he said.

With regard to allegations about “Crores of works allotted without tendering in PHE Division, Samba” and “over 40 Crore Scams in PHE Division, Samba”, they pertained to the period 2002-03 and 2004-05 and the enquiry was still pending in the Vigilance Organization. However, the issue was examined by Estimates Committee under the Chairmanship of M Y Tarigami and para stood dropped in the committee report.

“In case of report published in respect of State Accountability Commission (SAC), the case was not against my person, I am one of the respondents in a case which is between two millers, accusing each other. One miller has made all former ministers, former Directors and former secretaries and other officers and millers as co-respondents. The stay regarding proceedings on the basis of maintainability of the petition has been initiated by one of the respondents and I am also been made party to it as a respondent. I have never initiated any proceedings for stay in the High Court. I am a mere respondent in both the cases which does not make me an accused,” he said.

Regarding “theft of pipes in PHE division Bijbehara”, the case pertained to 2008 and stood enquired/probed into by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and found baseless, he said. The pipes were found in order and stood consumed in WSS Valurhama, which is a functional scheme, he added.

In case of allegations about the property in the names of his daughters, he said that the property was purchased in 1989 and it was in the settlement record of 1995-96 and in the “Misle Haqiyat”(Record of Rights). “It is much before I was even a legislator. Mere dispute between the two parties in the civil court does not amount to any irregularity, which is being blown up in the papers and media by the persons with vested interests,” he said.

Taj said that the fact about charges regarding rampant corruption in PHE department could be visualized from the fact that the initiatives taken in the department during his tenure stood appreciated not only by the public at large, but by the legislators in the Assembly, which was a matter of record.

“The appreciation was brought in the notice of the UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi as well, which speak for itself,” he added.

Regarding the issue of exemption of excise duties to the extent of Rs 46 lakhs (approximately), the PAC had been briefed/ replied and the para stood dropped, he said.

On some issues, he clarified that they did not pertain to his tenure as in case of irregularities regarding regularization of daily wagers which were was detected in the year 2004-05 by the Crime Branch and the investigation by the Crime Branch/ Vigilance Organization was going on.

13/ With regard to item No. 13, the case was examined/looked into, however, found baseless. It was mere an allegation labeled by the contractors with vested interests.

kashmirtimes

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