Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 14: Senior BJP leader and MLA Basohli, Ch Lal Singh, who tendered his resignation on Friday as Forest Minister along with Minister for Industries, Chander Parkash Ganga, today said that he has resigned on the moral grounds and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, being Minister Incharge Home Affairs and ‘some others’ in the party, should also resign on moral grounds in connection with case of 8-year-old girl’s rape and murder in Kathua.
Lal Singh, who is considered an outspoken leader, apparently appeared as ‘free bird’ today and replied all the queries of the media-persons at his Gandhi Nag-ar official re-sidence after coming strai-ght from the party meeting at BJP headquarters here, chaired by BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav this afternoon.
Speaking to the Excelsior, Ch Lal Singh cleared his stand and fully supported the three main issues raised by Jammu civil society and Jammu High Court Bar Association with regard to CBI probe into Kathua rape and murder case and severest punishment to the accused involved in the case; dep-ortation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis from the State and on new Tribal policy issue with regard to Forest /State land. He said no body can be allowed to encroach Government land this way and no body is above law of the land.
“I am prepared to face any consequences or damage. I respect the sentiments and aspirations of Jammu people. CBI probe is also for seeking justice for the victim’s family. Irrespective of any religion, we will never support the criminals. If for infamous Kashmir sex scandal and recent UP rape case under Yogi Govt, CBI inquiry can be ordered, what is the problem in holding CBI probe in Kathua rape and murder case pertaining to 8-year old girl ? It means there is some thing fishy,” Lal Singh asked.
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“Earlier, three investigations failed to move in right direction and then inquiry by Crime Branch was ordered. And that too, involving police officers from Kashmir including one of them having shady credentials. Is Kashmir police so competent and those in Jammu region are incompetent? What they want to prove?”, a furious Lal Singh maintained.
The people of Rassana and entire Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts have no trust on probe by Crime Branch and the case should be handed over to CBI without any delay. He regretted that after visiting Rassana to listen to the terrorised people migrated from there, he along with Chander Parkash Ganga went to the Chief Minister and told her that people were demanding CBI probe but she did not agree. He said the matter was also taken up with the Party State chief and high command.
“We are living in a democratic country and people’s voice is supreme. It is not a kingdom that a Shehanshah issued `Farman’ and it should be acceptable to all. Even the CBI probe can be held at any juncture. It is unfortunate that few days earlier Hurriyat leader Geelani issued statement opposing CBI probe into Kathua case and our Chief Minister hardly after four days also says no to it when the matter was discussed with her. Who is Geelani ? What he has to do with Rassana or Hiranagar? Has he ever visited Rassana and know where it is? He should mind his own business. The people of this area are capable to fight for their cause,” a furious Lal Singh said.
He maintained that for seven days the dead body of the girl could not be traced. Where was the State Home Minister (CM)? Is it not failure on her part? She should also own responsibility and tender resignation on moral grounds,” Lal Singh remarked.
When asked don’t you think some people in BJP from Jammu should also resign on moral grounds, Lal Singh said, ” we did our job and they should also go by their own conscience.”
While defending his participation in a rally in Hiranagar area of Kathua where many migrated families from Rassana village, where this crime took place had also arrived, Lal Singh said they had gone there on the directions of State party president, Sat Paul Sharma, to defuse the situation and restore normalcy.
“We had gone to defuse the situation created due to migration of villagers about one and half months back. We told people they should go back.
“I had gone there and Ministers Bali Bhagat and Abdul Gani Kohli had gone to Nowshera and Sunderbani to listen to people. Should we not listen to them? For what are we people’s representatives? Should we allow people to burn the State and die,” he asked.
The rally was organised by Hindu Ekta Manch in favour of the men implicated in the alleged rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl from the nomad community. The residents of Rassana village had also migrated to Hiranagar as a protest and blocked road against the PDP-BJP Government alleging harassment.
Lal Singh said their primary responsibility was to maintain peace and communal harmony in the State.
“Is it fine that State should be allowed to burn. I do not believe in Hindu-Muslim politics. Everybody is equal for me and as secular leader, two times MP and legislator several times, the people not only in J&K but outside also know about my credentials,” Lal Singh said.
He said they had gone to Rassana as they had a responsibility to reach out to the people. “Migration had taken place. Our party leadership, the party president, sent us there with responsibility. They did the right thing. We sat with over 5,000 people and made them understand. They heard us and went back to their homes. What is wrong in it?”
He said people were told that an inquiry would be held and they wouldn’t be harassed. The people in Kathua suspected that the inquiry would not be partial and demanded a CBI probe.
“We put forth their demand before the party as well as Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who rejected it and said the Crime Branch would probe the matter,” he said.
“The way media in Kashmir created a certain perception in the country is wrong and malicious. Unfortunately some national TV channels also painted a wrong picture that two Ministers had gone to Rassana in support of accused. This false propaganda dented the image and reputation of the Prime Minister and the party as well. And in the interest of the party and reputation and clean image of our Prime Minister Modi Ji, I have tendered resignation. There was no pressure on me for the resignation,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, MLA Vijaypur and senior BJP leader Chander Prakash Ganga while defending his position after resignation as Industries Minister, today said that he along with Ch Lal Singh had gone to the rally in Hiranagar area of Kathua on the instructions of State BJP president Sat Sharma. He said they were deputed by the party leadership to defuse situation.
“It is unfortunate that opposition parties and some groups in Kashmir unleashed false propaganda that we had gone there in support of Rassana case accused persons, which is totally wrong.”
Referring to the initial probe, Ganga said investigations failed on two- three occasions and there was public voice that many innocents were being harassed and victimised. So people were not satisfied with the investigations. The people had demanded CBI probe as they had not trust on the local police.
“They both narrated the matter to the party high command and also the Chief Minister but she turned down our plea. Now, when I have resigned on the moral grounds in the interest of the party and maintaining the reputation and image of our Prime Minister, I strongly demand for holding CBI probe into this case as something fishy is certainly there in the probe by Crime Branch as well. As a soldier of the party, I would continue to work as public representative in my constituency,” Ganga maintained.
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