Guilty PDP feeling heat over Waqf bunglings: Sagar

“Era of screaming by PDP on streets for concealing their macabre loot in name of religion has ended”

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar has described PDP’s frowning and usual screaming on roads, over investigation ordered by Chief Minister Mr. Omar Abdullah into Muslim Waqf Board bunglings as an outcome of its guilt which it finds difficult to hide. He said the government had nowhere identified the persons responsible for this religious property loot, but out of guilt, PDP’s own statement is confession of its crimes.

Mr. Sagar said PDP had actually during their rule tried through extraordinary special audits and investigations to find some fault but failed to do so. Now, Mr. Abdullah has initiated a public debate over the issue by declaring that a whitepaper, based on facts only, will be issued. He pointed out that Waqf Board had only decided to probe multi-crore works executed clandestinely without floating of tenders, large scale fraudulent purchases made, appointment of persons without following norms and breaking of multi-crore fixed deposits without any authority.

Praising the Chief Minister (CM) for ordering a transparent time-bound probe into misappropriation of funds worth crores by Waqf Board in the last six years, Mr. Sagar said the government is committed to identify people who have usurped property worth crores and swindled funds when these actually belong to the people. He asked PDP to be patient and wait for the Committee to submit the report.

Mr. Sagar said PDP’s crass remarks about Abdullah family will not water down the resolve of the government to search for the truth behind Waqf embezzlements. “By stooping to such low levels of political debate where the party passes such insinuating personal remarks, PDP has hinted at its political bankruptcy,” he said.

Criticizing PDP for prejudging the probe, Mr. Sagar said the investigation will be transparent and those found responsible for embezzling public funds would be brought to justice. “Nowhere was it mentioned by the Chief Minister that PDP was responsible for Waqf mismanagement. PDP’s coming out with an instant reaction gives a clear indication where the finger of suspicion is pointing,” Mr. Sagar added. He said PDP is back to its tried and tested tactics of screaming on streets to conceal its misdeeds.