Sajad Lone asks govt to clarify its stand

Jammu, Mar 19: While seeking a clarification from the government on the terminated employees, People’s Conference (PC) President and legislator Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday criticised the police verification policy.

He said that the services of various government employees were terminated without giving them a chance to be heard. “I want to ask the government whether their cases will be reviewed, if there is a roadmap for their reinstatement, or if they will be given an opportunity to defend themselves,” Lone said.

He was participating in the demand for grants for the departments under the charge of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in the Legislative Assembly. Raising concerns over the police verification process, Lone questioned the intrusive nature of the procedure.

“It is surprising to see questions in the verification formats such as ‘Where have you been in the last five years?’ and ‘Who are your father-in-law and mother-in-law,” PC President said. Drawing the House’s attention to alleged stark regional disparities in issuing reservation benefits under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, Lone said, “Despite similar per capita income and other economic indices in both the regions, more certificates have been issued in Jammu than in Kashmir.”

“What is it that 22000 certificates were issued in Jammu and only 2700 in Kashmir,” the legislator said. He said that revenue officials must be held accountable for rejecting candidates seeking such certificates. “The onus is on the Tehsildars. If they reject cases, on what basis do they do so,” he added.

Taking a dig at the outsourcing practice, Lone said that despite being more expensive, it was still being pursued. “They choose outsourcing because, I believe, there seems to be some vested interest in it. I request the Chief Minister to desist from outsourcing, ” Lone said. He said that the students enrolled in Falah-e-Aam Trust schools faced issues in registering themselves with JKBOSE and the government must look into the issue.

“ As the schools are linked to banned Jamaat- e- Islami, it has some security implications. I think Chief Minister has to intervene due to such implications,”the PC leader said.The legislator also sought enhancement in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and perks for MLAs. “If you have to be a good MLA, you need a certain amount of money and if you don’t give it to them, it is an invitation to corruption,” he said.