ACB Investigation: Trust judiciary fully, let agencies do their job: Deputy CM

Jammu, Feb 27: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday stated that the agencies conducting the investigation into his brother’s case were given a free hand to operate, and they (the family) were extending full cooperation to them (the agencies) with the hope of justice.

Choudhary asserted that he was hopeful of justice for his brother and he had full trust in the judiciary.

“What happened to my brother? Why and in what circumstances, it happened? It will be better if the media brings the truth to the fore as local media knows me, my brother and my entire family. The agencies, you are naming, are doing their job. Let them do their job. We are giving them (investigation agencies) free hand to work. We are cooperating with them,” Choudhary said, while responding to media queries about the action and ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in a disproportionate assets case against his brother Vijay Singh Choudhary, an Inspector in Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP).

The Deputy Chief Minister was addressing the media after chairing a high-level meeting of the Mining Department at Jammu.

Yet in the same breath, he maintained, “But at the same time, we hope that my brother will get justice. There will be no pick-n-choose. Hope for justice will be there and I will advocate for it. At this moment, I would not say anything beyond it. The agencies should work. If we have done something wrong, we will bear its consequences and if we have not, we fully trust our judiciary that it will deliver justice as it happened in the case of Delhi excise scam.”

Choudhary described the present phase as a temporary period, a testing time for his family. “Yes, during this temporary phase, the family, children and the women (in the family), in particular, get affected by the harassment. Certainly, one finds it quite sad and unfortunate if one has to suffer for the crime, one has not committed. But I’ve full faith in “Maa (mother) Vaishnodevi”, “Maa Bawewali” and “Sant Baba Sunder Singh Ali Begh Wale” of Nonial, – my native place. They will not allow any injustice to us,” he said.

Regarding illegal mining in Tawi riverbed area, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that the damage to Tawi bridge occurred from the Khandwal area during recent floods. “The major reason behind it was that the Shivalaya (mining) company had diverted the entire river Tawi. Yesterday I visited the Beli Charana and Khandwal area. Given the situation, I’ve come to the conclusion, if the immediate preventive steps are not taken, the entire Khandwal, Chatha, Chatha farms and all low lying areas up to Balole would drown. So there is an immediate need to check illegal mining. That is why I’ve given clear directions in this regard during the meeting I chaired today,” Choudhary said.

Responding to a question about the court decision in case of Delhi excise scam, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “I greet the Indian judiciary, for living up to its reputation across the globe and trust among the people of this country, by delivering justice once again. I also congratulate (Arvind) Kejriwal Sahib for winning a protracted fight for justice. I hope even the media persons and big media houses will also work to strengthen democracy and democratic institutions by projecting and propagating facts among the people and the world as they used to do in the past.”

Responding to another related question, he said that the elections in democracy should be contested on people’s burning issues as per our constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar.

“Youth’s grievances need to be addressed as we have unemployment and drug addiction as the main issues to be tackled across the country,” Choudhary said.

Regarding questions about illegal mining, he said that he had given clear-cut instruction to the officials during the meeting  vis-a-vis strict enforcement of e-Challan at crusher units, mandatory GPS tracking of all vehicles transporting mining material and implementation of the “one Parchi, one Load” rule to completely curb illegal mining across Jammu and Kashmir.

“I’ve instructed that no vehicle shall be allowed to transport mining material without a valid ‘Parchi’ (authorized e- challan). Only one load must be permitted against each Parchi and any misuse or duplication shall invite strict action against the violator,” he said.

“Making GPS tracking mandatory, I’ve ordered that all vehicles involved in mining operations must have functional GPS devices installed. Vehicles operating without GPS shall be seized immediately and stern action shall be taken against defaulters,” he said.

Referring to the decisions taken during the meeting, Choudhary asserted that no excavation would exceed the prescribed depth and mining beyond authorised riverbed zones and illegal night operations shall be dealt with firmly.

“I gave DCs, who head District Task Forces and SSPs, a free hand to take strict action against illegal mining offenders, including complicit officials. No external pressure will be tolerated while dealing with the offenders,” Deputy Chief Minister stated.