Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: Minister for PHE, I&FC, Taj Mohi-ud-Din today vowed to bring ‘no confidence motion’ against Legislative Council Chairman, Amrit Malhotra from own party, alleging that he has ‘misused’ his Constitutional position for settling personal scores and eroded the sanctity of this August House.
Addressing a press conference here today, the Congress Minister, presently facing land encroachment charges said that he will welcome any inquiry into the allegations raised against him but the committee announced by the Chairman against a sitting Minister and that too, on the demand of only one member Sayed Rafiq Shah (NPP) and his supporter, Murtaza Khan from PDP, during the time when the House was not in session, was unconstitutional and illegal.
“ The Chairman derives powers from the House and when majority of the members in the House were against it, announcing a committee was illegal and unconstitutional. Interestingly, the two members who were stressing for probe were made the Inquiry Committee members and one of them ( Murtaza Khan) as chairman. Mr Shah raised question that Minister encroached upon Forest land at Shopian, but they sought my property statement from different Dy Commissioners including Kathua, Jammu, Srinagar and Baramulla, keeping silence on Shopian land. It exposes the intentions and revengeful attitude of the Chairman of the committee and ‘others’ in the Council. Framing such committee by sitting chairman will be a unique example in the parliamentary democracy and he bowed to strongly oppose such unconstitutional act otherwise, it would have set a precedence,’’ Mr Taj maintained.
The Minister pointed out that status of land was clarified by Forest Minister Mian Altaf in the Council on Oct 11 and he also produced 30 year old revenue record. The land was purchased by him when he was not in power or not even a member of any house. Some 13 kanal land came under Roshni Act. An e-mail was sent by the Chairman of the House Committee on Oct 17, 2012 prior the conduct of meeting scheduled for Oct 18, that is one day ago. Orders were passed in this behalf by the Chairman of the LC himself under his one signatures from his personnel section, not within the purview of the Codel procedures of the House. Mr Taj said he has no confidence in the ‘Chair’ and will seek removal of the sitting Chairman. For this, he will work with the NC and the own party members and also approach the party high command, seeking removal of Mr Malhotra from this constitutional position.
Mr Taj said Rafiq Shah was once ousted from Board meeting for creating nuisance and he tried to settle scores. But unfortunately his own party men by supporting somebody’s cause, tried to create wedge between Congress and NC and also damaged ‘Coalition’. He clarified that he exerted no pressure on anyone for this but has supported his Chief Minister because he is duty bound to do it. Two NC members earlier resigned questioning, the ‘legality’ of the committee. Congress MLC, Mr Magrey who is claiming that minister stolen his letter pads and sent forged letters to media, has not only singed but also self-drafted at PWD Guest House, Gandhinagar in presence of former legislator and Congress leader Th Puran Singh on Oct 11. What made Magrey to take U-turn within 4 hours, he was unable to understand. Mr Taj claimed that he will take legal action against Bashir Magrey and send his letter through investigating agency to the handwriting experts in top Forensic Labs of the country to expose him. Now, water had gone above the head and it became necessary to come out and explain his position and present facts before public as the people within own party and outside, were trying to malign his image, he added.
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