Srinagar, July 13: Accusing the National Conference-led coalition government of using political vendetta to defame Ansari Toyota – Toyota dealership in Kashmir, Irfan Ansari, Chief Executive Officer of the company said the government was creating "hindrances" in establishment of business ventures in the Valley.
“The NC-led government is not sincere in promoting entrepreneurship in the Valley. It sees everything through political prism. They want only their stooges to start new ventures,” he said.
“Omar Abdullah raises only hollow slogans. On ground he has done nothing for the promotion of business activities in the Valley,” said Irfan Ansari, who is younger son of Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, MLA of People Democratic Party (PDP).
Ansari criticized the statement by a Legislative Assembly panel on Friday in which the latter had directed the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to depute an enforcement party for an on the spot inspection of “Ansari Motors (TOYOTA)” at Bemina By-Pass to ascertain whether the construction is legal or illegal.
“They (government) are mixing politics with business. I have got building permission from SMC; I have got all the NOCs required for getting building permission. I don’t know why they have raised this issue, it seems it is politically motivated, as my father is prominent politician and belongs to main opposition party PDP,” he said.
Pertinently, the panel was formed to ascertain the “actual position” regarding illegal encroachments of wetlands in Srinagar, Baramulla and Bandipora districts.
He said the “statement of LA panel on my showroom was pre-planned, as I was scheduled to inaugurate it on July 7 and they wanted to create ruckus to defame my image."
Ansari demanded that the panel should hold an inquiry on all the showrooms and workshops operating on the Srinagar-Baramullah Highway and come up with a report on their status in terms of Master Plan.
“If the panel is sincere in its efforts it can ask the SMC to find out whether a number of showrooms that have come up on the highway have building permission and other requisite documents. I am willing to prove that my workshop has been constructed as per law, but what about others,” Ansari asked.
“Srinagar Master Plan has earmarked the area where I have constructed the workshop for the very purpose. So my workshop fulfils the requirements laid down in the Master Plan and there is nothing illegal which I have done,” he said, adding that his only “mistake” was that “I am trying and working hard to generate employment avenues for my people, which is not liked by people sitting in power corridors.”
“If any Panel wants to check whether I have constructed the workshop as per law, they are welcome. But what pinches me most is that the NC is trying to mix my father’s identity with my business,” he said, adding that his father has nothing to do with the workshop.
“My father is not a part of my company, nor he holds any charge/position in the company. How can they (LA panel) issue a statement in his name,” he said.
Pertinently, the House Committee of Legislative Assembly which met under the chairmanship of MLA Mir Saifullah last Friday had sought relevant records about the construction of “Ansari Motors (TOYOTA)” and asked the concerned to furnish the requisite information to the Assembly Secretariat for examination of the Committee.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST