Jammu, Aug 1: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday demanded abolition of discretionary quota and powers enjoyed by ministers in Jammu and Kashmir on the pattern proposed for union Ministers.
 It also lashed out at the Congress for alleged double standards and said that while at the centre the Congress-led UPA wants to take credit for having initiated the move to curtail discretionary powers of union ministers, it has maintained convenient silence in Jammu and Kashmir and continues to share the “booty of loot” with its coalition partner-the National Conference.
 In a press statement issued here, party’s chief spokesperson Jitendra Singh said, “the state Congress leadership owes an explanation in the matter and it cannot be allowed to have the cake and eat it too by ostensibly claiming to check corruption in New Delhi while simultaneously being a beneficiary of corrupt practices in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir”.
 Citing instances, Singh said in addition to misuse of discretionary authority in various spheres, including nominations to technical courses and employment for certain jobs, the ministers in Jammu and Kashmir have also “mastered” the art of using discretion even in matters where under the rule there is no discretionary power available to them.
 “The tenders to execute public works are manipulated in such a manner that instead of following a fair allotment procedure, these are handed over to ministers’ chosen henchmen, who in turn share the profits with the concerned minister even though the minister under the oath of office is not entitled to be a part of any activity of profit or office of profit,” he said.
 Singh demanded that it should be mandatory for all the ministers and top bureaucrats in the state to declare their assets and there should be a mechanism in place to assess and account for the expenditure incurred from state exchequer by each of these high-ups on their air travel, telephone, house renovation, transport and other miscellaneous purposes.
 He also recommended fast track disposal of corruption cases against bureaucrats and senior officers on the lines of proposal made to the Union government.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 1 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST