Srinagar, August 10
After warning that action would be taken against politicians having a nexus with militants in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today hit out at some of his ministerial colleagues for patronising corruption.

Azad, who vowed to end corruption in the state soon after taking over as Chief Minister in 2005, denied allegations made by the PDP, partner of the ruling Congress, that the anti-graft drive was limited to the Kashmir region and was holding up developmental works.

“This is wrong, people who used to get a cut are making a noise. Many people are not getting their share now, be the senior officers or politicians,” Azad said in an interview to Radio Kashmir.

Referring to his ministerial colleagues, he said, “These people (ministers) say ‘Wazire Alia kahta hai to kahnay do, tum aapna kaam karo’ (Let the Chief Minister say what he wants, you (officers) do your job).” His comments came a day after he claimed that some politicians had a nexus with militants and his government would take an action against them soon.

Azad, in the interview, said his war was against corruption and not limited to any region. “The war against corruption would continue and anyone irrespective of whether they hail from Jammu or Srinagar, or whether they are Hindu or Muslim, will be brought in the vigilance net,” he asserted.

His comments were seen as a response to PDP leader and Law Minister Tariq Ahmed Karra’s allegation that the anti- corruption drive was limited to the Kashmir region.

Karra, who also holds the finance and planning portfolio, has been claiming that the State Vigilance Organisation was targeting the Kashmir region and ignoring Jammu and Ladakh, a statement seen by political observers as another attempt by the PDP to regionalise the issue of corruption. — PTI