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News

Migrant Kashmiri Pandits reject committee set up to probe relief money scam


Date:- 17 Jun 2020


migrant Pandits of Jammu and Kashmir Protest Tribune

Ravi S Singh

The migrant Pandits of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday rejected the committee constituted by the UT Administration to probe into the alleged scam of monthly monetary benefits that were meant for displaced and persecuted Pandits but were doled out to workers of the Congress, National Conference and PDP over the past 30 years.

Expressing concern at the Jammu and Kashmir Administration's "lackadaisical" approach in the matter, they pitched for an independent investigation by the CBI or ACB, saying nothing less than it would be acceptable.

The relief money in question was given by the Office of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We had even given documentary proof of the scam to the authorities that showed how political activists of the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and Congress were getting monthly monetary benefits from the government exchequer from the share meant for the persecuted members of the Kashmiri Pandit community," said Satish Mahaldar, Chairperson of Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.

Their grouse is that the government has formed an inquiry committee which includes members who colluded in the scam.

"It seems that the committee has been instituted to cover up the scam. The government is not sincere to give justice to the wronged," a Pandit leader said.

"This inquiry committee is a total cover-up, whose objective seems to not get the real culprits exposed. This also shows the apathetic attitude of those in the governance in the state."

Mahaldar alleged that the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Office used to disburse about Rs 78 crore annually to workers of the three political parties over the past 30 years.

"These leaders and workers have been getting the money from the J&K coffers every month and every year since 1990. And the amount totals to Rs 2,340 crore in the last 30 years," Mahaldar added.

He claimed that he had a list of names of 5,000 political workers as beneficiaries, adding that each of these workers were getting Rs 13,000 per month.

Courtesy: Daily Tribune:  17th June, 2020