Centre to bring all pay-offs under scanner
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New Delhi: Explosive revelations by former Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh (retd.) that most ministers in Jammu and Kashmir were being paid by the Army is beginning to have a ripple effect among the country’s security and intelligence agencies.The Union government, in a highly confidential note circulated to the intelligence and security agencies, most of which operate in the trouble-torn Kashmir Valley, directed them to keep proper accounts, “irrespective of whether they (agencies) are open to an external audit or not” of all operational expenses in J&K.Sources said this in effect meant that all payments made through “source money” as well as “secret funds” by these agencies will have to be properly accounted for. Virtually all key intelligence and security agencies have a sizeable presence in the Valley and are often involved in complex covert counter-insurgency operations.Government sources admitted that funds for such operations in Kashmir were often left out of the ambit of external audits, including by the CAG.But all agencies are meant to keep an internal record of expenses incurred in counter-insurgency operations, including covert action, in militancy-affected states.Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for an investigation into former Army Chief General Singh’s allegation. Abdullah said that he has taken it up with the Centre. “We have no financial dealings with the Army. His accusations have made our jobs more difficult and have dealt a blow to the credibility of the people working in my government and political parties,” he said.Asked if minister Ghulam Hassan Mir will be sacked or asked to resign, he said, “Leave it to me and my coalition partner Congress. We will deal with it.”
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