Jammu and Kashmir’s otherwise powerful agricultural minister Ghulam Hassan Mir, who is caught in an embarrassing situation following the sensational revelation that he received payoffs from the Technical Support Division (TSD), a secret military intelligence unit set up during the tenure of Gen. V.K. Singh as Army Chief, to topple the Omar Abdullah government which can even threaten his political career has offered himself to an “open and time-bound probe” into the allegation.
“If a fair probe is held, the truth will come out and I would stand vindicated. Therefore, I offer myself to an open and time bound probe to look into these allegations,” he said here in a signed statement on Wednesday. Mr Mir, who has been asked by the ruling National Conference to quit, added, “More than anyone else, I myself want that everybody should know that Ghulam Hassan Mir is absolutely relying on the power and support of his own people and wholeheartedly working for them. People of J&K for once and all deserve to know that which political players exist because of their exclusive support.”
He termed the allegation against him “baseless” and the revelation about his role during the summer 2010 civil unrest in Kashmir as “concerted effort from various corners to make a dent in my political integrity and popularity”. He asserted: “The allegations levelled recently are politically motivated and are absolutely false. I had been keeping quiet over the controversies raked in the past few days but now I am constrained to speak out as these controversies have not only sought to besmirch my personal reputation but also humiliated the people with whose support and faith I am where I am. I have been elected and have been a minister three times since 1984. No institution or agency can create popularity. I am neither a man of agencies nor that of any institution.”
Meanwhile, chief minister Omar Abdullah has called for an investigation into former Army Chief General Singh’s allegation that the Army pays ministers in Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace and stability. He 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 Mr Mir will be sacked or asked to resign, the chief minister said: “Leave it to me and Congress.”
We will deal with it.”