National Conference MLAs move privilege motion against former Army Chief V K Singh

SRINAGAR: Ruling National Conference MLAs today moved a privilege motion in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly against former Army Chief V K Singh for making allegations that money was paid to politicians in the state for getting certain jobs done.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mir Saifullah informed the House, which began its autumn session today, that National Conference members have moved a privilege motion against Singh.

Speaker Mubarak Gul said he has received the motion and will take a decision after going through it. "I have marked the motion to the Secretary ( Legislative Assembly). I have not gone through it yet. Once I go through it, I will come back to the House," he said.

Although the proceedings were limited to obituary references for former legislators and staff of the House who passed away recently, the issue of alleged political payoffs by army to politicians in the state dominated the discussions.

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather said the allegations made by Singh were uppermost in the minds of the members of the House as the former army chief has put the "esteem of the country, the legislature and its members at stake".

"This man has to be made to stand before the house and answer (for his claims). Privilege motion is the only way to bring him here and then proceed against him," Rather said.

He said the former Army chief has put the dignity of the army, which "we believe is apolitical", at stake.