Sex scandal: Azad urges people to stop protests

Srinagar, May 8: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today urged the people to put an end to the ongoing protests over the sex scandal as these would bring worldwide disrepute to the state.

He also called upon the people to unitedly wage a war against all the social evils in society.

''Almost all the social evils have reached Kashmir during the past 16 years of militancy. We are already known in the world for militancy and gun. The 16 years of militancy has brought along several social evils such as drugs, alcoholism, gambling and sex-related crimes,'' Mr Azad told journalists here.

The Chief Minister said when the sex scandal surfaced in the Valley for the first time in 2004, the people in Delhi blamed it on militancy.

Attempts should be made to improve the image of the Kashmiri society worldwide, he said and added that resorting to protests over the sex scandal would further damage that picture.

''There is no fun to stage protests on the roads everyday when a CBI probe has already been ordered. Let us close the chapter and not divert the attention from other important matters. By such protests, we are not giving a good picture of the society,'' he said.

Mr Azad called upon the people to unitedly launch a war against the social evils and put an end to protests as these will further defame the society.

There was a difference in thinking and perception of the people on ways and means to eradicate these evils from society, he added.

The Chief Minister said keeping in mind the seriousness of the scam, his government had already taken action in this regard and handed over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the first day itself after the scandal and the allegations surfaced that several high-profile people were involved in it.

''I believe in transparency. And in line with that I ordered a CBI probe into the scandal on the first day itself. Fingers would have been pointed at us and questions raised had we got the case investigated by the state administration that attempts are being made to shield some people involved in it,'' he added.

Mr Azad said the CBI is a premier investigating agency known the world over. ''So, we are not doing any good to society by resorting to such protests,'' he added.

The Chief Minister said the CBI will thoroughly probe the sex scandal and assured that no politician or government official would be spared, if found involved.

''Whosoever is involved and whatever position he or she holds, the person will be brought to justice,'' he added.

UNI