Srinagar, July 20: State Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Member of Assembly from Kulgam, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami on Wednesday demanded framing of effective laws for weeding out corruption and to break what he termed the politician-bureaucrat nexus in the state.
“State Accountability Commission is a dead organization. It is headless and defunct for the past few years. Our demand is that government should make the body functional at an earliest to take on corruption. Our vigilance (commission) doesn’t have the courage to lay hands on big sharks,” he said addressing a protest rally of CPI (M) here against corruption and inflation.
The leader demanded a Lokpal-type legislation in Jammu and Kashmir for curbing the menace.
Castigating government for “failing to curb corruption”, Tarigami said, “Tall promises about taking action against the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats and tax evaders by the authorities have proven hoax.”
“I want to ask the State government what happened to the promises made by them in and outside Assembly about taking on the corrupt officials,” he questioned.
Tarigami also appealed the political parties, civil society groups and intellectuals in the state to wage a united fight over both the issues.
About the campaign, he said, “This is the part of the nationwide campaign of the Left parties against price rise and corruption.”
Tarigami urged India and Pakistan to continue dialogue process for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“I appeal India and Pakistan to stop fighting with each other and do justice with Kashmiris. We don’t want peace of a graveyard, but we seek its restoration with dignity,” Tarigami said.
The CPI (M) leader said Kashmiris hail the firm stand of both the countries to carry forward the dialogue process after Mumbai blasts.
“It was heartening to see that the peace process was not derailed in the wake of blasts and we hope that they will go ahead with the same spirit,” he said.
Tarigami urged State Government to amend the Public Safety Act – which allows two-year detention without trial.
“To make the law more humane, the government should bring an amendment in the upcoming session of state legislature,” he said.
General Secretary of Kissan Tehreek, Ghulam Nabi Malik, while expressing concern over inflation said the price hike on petrol, diesel and cooking gas has severely affected the life of common man.
“We wouldn’t sit as mute spectator and will raise our voice against the hike,” he said.
Hundreds of CPI (M) cadres marched from TRC ground to Press Enclave Lal Chowk shouting slogans like “expose the corrupt officials” demanding immediate steps to curb inflation and to end corruption at the bureaucratic and political level.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
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