Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 12: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) unearthing many scams during the past few months has exposed the entire system.
Many big guns have fallen in the ACB net and it appears that investigations are on to nail others also. “Recent statement of the Chief Secretary B V R Subhramanyam that J&K was a broken State and the entire system was in a mess had rattled the politicians,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “The corruption has always been prevalent in Jammu and Kashmir and no one can deny this fact. But not many people were booked during the erstwhile political regimes.”
It may be recalled that many commissions to probe the complaints about corruption were formed during the political dispensations but all these bodies proved to be toothless tigers.
“The State Vigilance Organization (SVO) which has been rechristened as Anti Corruption Bureau, despite having sufficient evidence was unable to nail the big fishes in the old system due to the political pressure. Since the day J&K has been turned into Union Territory (UT) the ACB has started acting swiftly. Big shots, who used believe that they are above the law and can get away with anything are facing the heat as the noose has been tightened around them,” said an observer.
Referring to the recent statement of the J&K Chief Secretary, the observer said, “The CS has hinted that J&K will continue to remain a Union Territory till the system is set right and restoration of statehood in the near future seems impossible. It’s evident that New Delhi wants to clear the mess.”
He said, “The corrupt being nailed has sent a clear message down the line that no one will be spared. The ACB has even produced challans in old cases which were shelved due to the political pressure or other reasons.”
Another analyst said, “The work culture in government offices is changing fast. All the officials from top to bottom are aware of the fact that they are being watched. The ACB during the past few months has acted quickly on the complaints which were registered with it.”
He said, “Had the politicians not interfered with the working of anti-graft agencies in the erstwhile State, corruption would not have been so rampant. Big scams being unearthed have left people dazed. A common man is asking a simple question why no action was taken against the corrupt elements, who pushed J&K to the brink.”