Sajad Lone dares ACB to chase ‘big fishes’, alleges minister’s hand in corruption

Handwara, May 22: People’s Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Friday dared the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to act against powerful figures instead of confining its action to lower-rung officials, and alleged that a minister in the current dispensation was involved in corruption.

Speaking to reporters in Handwara after visiting Mawer to offer condolences to the family of jailed MP Engineer Rashid on the death of his father, Lone said it was the ACB’s moral responsibility to seek details and initiate an investigation whenever a public representative raises corruption allegations against a minister.

“It is easy to catch low-level officials. I dare the ACB to act against big fishes as well,” he said.

Turning to the Sidra demolition drive, Lone accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of being hand in glove with those carrying out what he described as the selective targeting of poor families. He said he had raised the issue during the recently concluded Assembly session and had urged the government well in time to rein in the forest department from carrying out such demolition drives, but claimed the elected government showed no willingness to stand with the poor.

“Had the issue involved influential or wealthy people, the entire government would have rushed to the spot and come to their rescue,” he said.

Lone further alleged that he was gathering details related to the matter and claimed that sources had pointed towards a mining scandal as the real motive behind the demolition drive. “I am digging out details and some sources say there is a mining scandal, which is why the poor have been targeted,” he said.

The PC chief also alleged that the present dispensation was missing on the ground and claimed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was more occupied with public events than addressing pressing public issues facing ordinary citizens.