Ruckus in J&K Assembly over land grab allegations against PDP

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was today adjourned for a brief period following pandemonium over alleged involvement of PDP leaders including Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni in a land grabbing case.

Speaker Mubarak Gul adjourned the House for ten minutes as Opposition members including those from PDP and BJP created noisy scenes in the House and disrupted the Question Hour. As soon as the House assembled this morning, Madni raised the issue of land grabbing allegations levelled by ruling National Conference legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri in the Legislative Council yesterday, which were published in local newspapers. "I will quit politics if it is proved that I have purchased any land, even one marla (272 square feet), since I started my political career," Madni said.

The matter pertains to conversion of 200 hectares of wetland into agriculture land at Marhama in Bijbehara constituency of Anantnag district alleged by a PDP leader.

Veeri alleged that names of PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Madni had also surfaced in the case. The Legislative Council has already directed the Chief Secretary to ascertain the documents regarding the land in question and submit a report. 

Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone suggested that the Speaker constitute a House Committee to probe the allegations so that responsibility for the wrongdoing is fixed and punishment meted out to those involved.