Sawhney seeks judicial probe into �property purchase� case involving Nirmal Singh, Kavinder

Jammu | 2-Aug-2020

Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney condemned the construction of the residential bungalow by ex-Deputy CM Nirmal Singh on disputed land with the Indian Army and sought inquiry in the matter. The construction of this palatial bungalow in Nagrota by the said BJP leader has been under the scrutiny of the public eye since 2018, when the top BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, including Nirmal Singh and Kavinder Gupta, purchased, via a company "Himgiri Infrastructure Development", land right next to the Army�s ammunition depot in Nagrota. Sawhney accused the BJP of putting national security in peril and asked why has the construction of such a property been allowed even after the Army personnel had expressed its apprehensions time and again.
The Congress leader demanded serious inquiry and resolution of the matter. "I urge the Hon'ble Lt. Governor G.C. Murmu to get to the bottom of such matters which include many senior BJP leaders involved in land grabbing cases. I request that he approaches the High Court and requests a one- man Commission including a sitting HC Judge to conduct a formal inquiry; to seek judicial help, to enquire the Himgiri Infrastructure Development Case in a timely manner. Moreover, the administration needs to find out how many BJP leaders have occupied lands by sheer political force and power they enjoy at the behest of the trust of the public. ."
"BJP leaders in J&K have been increasingly named in land dispute cases and the recent complaint filed by the ex-Deputy CM showcases their fears of being exposed and their futile attempts to regain control over their lies which have been uncovered. In 2018 itself after a petition, which was filed by the Indian Army in the J&K High Court against such construction, the High Court had directed the authorities to follow the guidelines of the Defense Act, which prohibits such constructions. Even that did not stop the BJP leaders from continuing the construction work against judicial orders. If this doesn't show abuse of power, then what does?", commented Sawhney.
"The former Minister is constructing his dream house in Nagrota while forgetting his duties as a public person and as a citizen. The land on which the mentioned property stands clearly comes under that jurisdiction where construction is prohibited. The Defence Act prohibits any Construction within prescribed distances from the Army depot for security reasons. This implies that the construction is not only objectionable but also illegal.", Stated Sawhney.
"BJP has become the new land mafia in J&K. Many senior reputed leaders are using their political stature in the state to acquire benefits. Their actions show a violation of people's security, people's rights, and people's trust. This is not one case but so many cases that on the larger level it seems a systemic failure caused by the BJP. Thus, the matter needs urgent redressal from the judiciary and other competent authorities. All land grabbing and land dispute cases involving these BJP leaders should be immediately investigated to prevent them from cheating the law, and cheating the public.", added Sawhney.
According to a 2015 notification, any constructions in the concerned area required the permission of the Commanding Officer. It is alleged that the BJP leader misused his power to illegally acquire land which violated certain provisions of the Defense Act. Sawhney said, "Firstly, the house constructed is in close vicinity of army's ammunition depot and stands in violation of the defense act. So, the illegal construction should have stopped by the authorities. Secondly, all the evidence suggesting the illegality of the act lies in public domain already."
Sawhney also condemned the complaint lodged against Advocate Shakeel by ex-Deputy CM Nirmal Singh, stating that "The complaint is completely baseless, the only logic behind it is to suppress the voices of those who are exposing the BJP leaders' abuse of power." Advocate Shakeel had recently posted pictures and videos of Nirmal Singh's alleged illegal bungalow constructed on disputed land on social media countering which the Former Deputy Chief Minister of J&K filed a complaint against the advocate.