*Criminal charges against several politicians
Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Nov 18: Jammu and Kashmir might be a cash-starved State but when it comes to politicians it can put to shame many politicians across the country.
This can be gauged from the fact that out of 123 candidates, who have filed their nomination for contesting elections during the first phase of polling in the border State, nearly 40% are crorepatis
Interestingly, the average assets per candidates contesting the first phase of elections in the State are Rs 1.38 crore. These wealthy politicians are affiliated with spectrum of political parties including National Conference, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC) and even Independents.
National Conference, which has enjoyed power for several decades leads the flock with 69 % of its candidates crorepatis, followed by JKPDP (50%), BJP (46%), Congress (33%), Peoples Conference (50%), Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) with 40%, All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party (50%), Samajwadi Party (50%) and Independents (37%).
These revelations have come to the fore in a report submitted by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) – an organisation, which was established in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. The Report is based on the analysis of affidavits submitted by the candidates, which were submitted while filing their nomination papers.
The Report indicated that among the major parties, the average assets per candidate for 15 Congress candidates is Rs 1.43 crores, 14 JKPDP candidates have average assets of Rs 2.42 crores, 13 JKNC candidates have average assets worth Rs 3.99 crores and 13 BJP candidates have average assets of Rs 1.4 crores.
Further, three candidates have declared assets worth more than Rs 10 crores and they included Forest Minister Altaf Ahmad (NC) from Kangan, Yasir Reshi of PDP from Bandipur and present Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo from Kishtwar. Only three candidates out of 123 have assets less than Rs 50, 000 and these included Nazir Ahmad Rain (Ganderbal) of BJP, Mohammad Iqbal Zargar (Bandipora) of AIFB and Mohammad Yousaf (Independent) from Doda.
Another astonishing fact in the report is that 10 candidates, who have assets worth more than Rs 1 crore have not even declared, PAN details. Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of these crorepati candidates without PAN coming under the scanner of Income Tax Department.
Crorepati candidates, who haven’t given their PAN details while filling the affidavit included Kacho Mohammd Hussain (Kargil), Ishfaq Ahmad (Ganderbal) — all from National Conference; Housing Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora (Leh) of Congress, Stanzin Lapka (Zanskar) of BJP; Bashir Ahmad (Kangan), Ghulam Mohammad (Zanskar), former Minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal (Ganderbal) —– all from PDP; Abdul Majeed Dhobi (Ganderbal), Mushtaq Ahmad Shah (Kangan) – from J&K People’s Conference, Mohammad Sultan Lone (Kangan) from BSP and several Independent candidates including Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad (Ganderbal), Nazir Ahmad Lone (Ganderbal), Ghulam Hassan Rather (Ganderbal), Ghulam Ahmad Bhat (Bandipora), Ghulam Rasool Bhat (Gurez), Ghulam Mohammad Parray (Sonawari).
Another interesting feature of the report is that five candidates, who have filed nominations, have declared in their affidavit that criminal cases have been registered against themselves. These included Usman Abdul Majid (Bandipora) of Congress, Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal (Bhaderwah) of PDP, Aijas Hussain (Kishtwar) of NCP and Mohammad Yousaf (Doda), Nazir Ahmad (Sonawari) -both Independents.
Nazir Ahmad, who is contesting as Independent from Bandipora has declared in his affidavit details of FIR No. 64/2009, which has been registered in Sumbal district of Bandipora and charges under Section IPC 366,109 have been framed against him. Charges relating to cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property (IPC Section 420), forgery charges (IPC Section 468) stand against another Independent candidates – Mohammad Yousaf from Doda.
Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal, whose involvement surfaced in the infamous Gulmarg land scam, is contesting on PDP ticket and charges under Section 120, 468, 471 have been framed against him in the Court of Additional Session Judge Bhaderwah.
Another candidate contesting on NCP mandate has charges related to criminal intimidation (IPC Section 506), 323, and 504 against him in the Court of CJM Kishtwar. Charges have also been framed against Congress candidate – Usman Abdul Majid from Bandipora under Section 500, 109 of IPC.
The ADR report has also brought to forth another shocking disclosure that 59 % of the candidates have an education qualification of 12th pass or below while 39 % candidates have declared having an education qualification of graduate or above. Two candidates have declared that they are illiterate.
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