Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 16: Opposition Congress and National Conference today created uproar and staged a walkout twice from the Legislative Assembly to protest the alleged use of money power in the by-poll to Anantnag Assembly segment where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is a candidate.
As soon as the Question Hour ended, Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora informed the Speaker that police had seized a private car on Tuesday evening (June 14) at Ashajipora in Anantnag district and found Rs 58 lakh in the vehicle. “During questioning at the police station, one person on board identified himself as an employee of Jammu and Kashmir Bank at Ashajipora branch,” he said.
Jora claimed that police contacted the Manager of the Ashajipora branch who confirmed that the money belonged to the bank and was being transferred to the chest. “There is a set protocol to be followed while moving the cash to the chest. It is done in an official vehicle… Why was it being done in the night?” he asked.
Jora demanded that Speaker Kavinder Gupta should order an inquiry into the matter as it seems that Government was distributing the money to buy votes for the June 22 by-poll for Anantnag Assembly seat.
The Congress leader besides his party was supported by the National Conference members .
CAPD Minister Zulfkar Ali intervened saying that the opposition was making baseless charges. “The election process is carried out under the direct control and supervision of the Election Commission of India. It is not under State Government domain. If they have any proof, they should bring it forth. But they have no proof,” he said.
The agitated opposition shouted slogans against the Government and staged a walkout from the House. However, they returned soon during the Question Hour.
Zulfkar while intervening during the discussion on demand of grants interested and issued a statement in the House on the issue again. He said that the money that was seized by the police from the car belonged to Jammu and Kashmir Bank.
The statement of the Minister irked the opposition NC and Congress and the MLAs of the both the parties stood on their feet and protested. They again alleged that ruling party was distributing money among voters in Anantnag Assembly segment where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is locked in a multi-cornered contest in the by-poll that was necessitated by the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
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