Roshni Act biggest ever scam: Balbir
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 14: Terming the Roshni scheme a biggest ever scam in the State, BJP State Spokesperson, Balbir Ram Rattan demanded a high level probe into the same to punish the culprits who looted the State exchequer and cheated the people.
In a statement issued here, today Balbir said the much hyped and publicized Roshni Act proved a total failure as it did not bring the promised result due to its misuse. This Act benefitted politicians and affluent persons who were in illegal occupation of the Government land and hence the Governor Administration should order an inquiry to identify such people who got regularized hundreds of kanals of land in their favour under the grab of Roshni Act, he added.
Balbir, while putting forth party’s view point on the issue, said that repealing Roshni Act is not enough but a thorough inquiry is must to expose the beneficiaries besides getting vacated the land allotted under the Act.
He said that the Government had enacted Roshni Act on the plea of earning Rs. 25,000 crore by transferring 20 lakh kanals of State land to its occupants against payment at market rates. The Government had further assured that the revenue generated would be spent on commissioning of hydroelectric power projects in the State.
Balbir said that the people of the State should know about the report by CAG which says that as against the estimated Rs. 25,000 crore, only Rs. 76 crore were realized from the transfer of encroached land between 2007 and 2013. They should also know as to which political party was in power in the State during this period and for whom Roshni Act was misused as CAG report has also pointed out the irregularities. Smelling a rat, he added that the Act was enacted to benefit politicians and affluent people of the State.
The Spokesperson said that although the Governor has taken a right decision of repealing the said Act and the party appreciated his decision but a High Powered Committee need to be constituted to identify the politicians and affluent beneficiaries, book them under law and get the allotted land vacated from them.
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