Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, July 8: Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu, has once again asked the Anti Corruption Bureau to intensify its campaign against the corrupt elements in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the media reports LG recently chaired a high level meeting in the summer capital and directed the ACB officials to expand the ambit of their investigations to catch the big fishes involved in corruption. The LG also stressed on taking serious action against the corrupt officials in any department without any further delay.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Corruption in J&K has always been a cause of concern. The LG giving free hand to ACB has led to many corrupt elements being nailed during the past few months.”
He said, “Former political regimes also launched many drives against the corrupt elements but the desired results couldn’t be achieved due to one or other reason. Now, there are no political pressures and the ACB can finish the tasks which were left unaccomplished in the past.”
An observer said, “The ACB has become very active in the recent times and it appears that it takes a very serious note of the complaints of corruption which are filed by the people on daily basis.”
Reffering to the arrest of Hilal Rather, son of former Finance Minister of J&K, and senior National Conference leader, Abdul Rahim Rather, the observer said, “The ACB by acting against a big fish for his alleged involvement in loan fraud case has set a precedent. There are still many big fishes that are roaming scot free and they need to be nailed.”
Another analyst said, “J&K’s reorganization seems to have made the officials and others realize that they cannot get away with everything and they will be held accountable. The political masters who used to shield these elements have themselves become irrelevant. They too are being asked to come clean on the huge wealth they have amassed.”
He said, “People who used to believe that they are above the law have been cut to size and are being asked to explain how come they have become so rich. In order to save themselves most of the politicians have gone into a silent mode and are hoping that no questions are posed to them.”
It’s in place to mention here that J&K’s reorganization has automatically extended the jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into J&K and doesn’t need any permission from the government to take action against any suspect. The CBI has been asking the people to approach them in case some official or anyone else seeks illegal gratification from them.
and praised the efforts being put in by the ACB in curbing the Corruption in the J&K UT.
