NC, CPI (M) demands CBI enquiry in J

Jammu, Jan 29 (UNI) Members of the Opposition National Conference (NC) and CPI(M) today demanded a CBI enquiry in the ''bunglings'' in the State Forest Department to bring out transparency before the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Briefing newspersons outside the Assembly today afternoon, the leader of the Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather said the government is not serious in running the business of the House.

''The government is not interested in the smooth functioning of the House. We have just asked them either to give assurance of removing the ministers if they are found guilty or drop them from the House till the discussion in the Kundal Report is over,'' Mr Rather said asserting, ''if government don't want to sack the ministers, the enquiry should be handed over to the CBI to make things transparent.'' ''We are surprised that the Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Beig in one of his addresses at Ganderbal has said that no question arises of sacking the ministers,'' Mr Rather said adding that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also in her statement claimed that ministers have no involvement in the ''bunglings'' and would not resign.

Criticizing the statements, Mr Rather alleged that if the government has given ''clean chit'' to the tainted ministers on their own, then there is no fun of sitting in the Opposition and demanding discussion on the Kundal report.

''We want government to be serious. The CBI enquiry should be ordered on the Kundal report. Government should at least assure us on the floor of the House that if found accountable in the ''bunglings'', the ministers will be 'sacked','' Mr Rather said.

Meanwhile, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami in his brief address also demanded CBI probe in the State Forest Department. He said disturbing features of the functioning of the State Forest and Environment ministers have come to light during the last couple of days.

''I cautioned Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad about the malpractices in the State forest department and sought CBI enquiry into the case,'' Mr Tarigami said adding that if there is nothing to hide, the government should not take time in referring the case to the CBI.

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