As the row escalates over allegations that the Indian Army’s intelligence unit misused funds to topple Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir, the state’s agricultural minister Ghulam Hassan Mir accused of trying to engineer a coup finds himself in the line of fire. The minister tells Umer Beigh that he is open to probe and willing to quit if found guilty.
The Central government has said that they are contemplating a probe into the allegation. Sources also say that the Army has recommended a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation. In Kashmir, the National Conference has also asked for a probe by a retired judge.
I have worked for the stability of the state and the government all along. I am an open book. For me any probe is good, I am ready for it. I will in fact help any probing agency. It will help me to clear my name and put my stand in front of the people of the state.
The report says you received Rs 1.19 crore from the military intelligence (MI) unit?
I have already said that I have worked for the stabilisation of government, so the question of taking money doesn’t arise.”
The report mentions the NGO Yes Kashmir which has been pushing a fake encounter case against current Army Chief Bikram Singh? They have no other record of work on human rights.
I don’t know anything about that NGO. Neither do I have any association or involvement with them. The NGO is not known to me or the persons who work for it. (Laughs)
Are you saying your name is being dragged into the row?
To me, the row seems to have stemmed from internal rivalry in the Army. How was it possible for me, being an independent lawmaker to dismantle the majority in J&K assembly? When we contested the elections, we were supporting the Congress and we were allies of the Congress. I am in the coalition government from the Congress quota. I don’t know exactly who has done it, even I can’t guess it. There may be… (fumbles and pauses) I don’t know what are the reasons for this manipulation.
The National Conference is saying that over a hundred youth killed in civil protest in 2010 may have been part of this conspiracy….
In 2010, I put in every effort to ensure that the present government remains stable. I don’t need to prove this, my cabinet colleagues, New Delhi and the administration knows it quite well.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s uncle and NC’s additional general secretary Mustafa Kamaal has flayed you. He says it is an open secret that you work for the intelligence bureau and the Army.
I need not to comment on what Kamaal says. You have been seeing it for the past 10 years, he has been saying too much. I have never even tried to react to what he says. Let him say what he wants.
Your cabinet colleague and senior National Conference minister Ali Mohammad Sagar has sought your resignation. Would you continue to be a minister in Kashmir government?
I read his statement. He hasn’t categorically demanded my resignation. He has said if any conspiracy is being hatched against me then I should not resign which is true. Look, it is an allegation. If it would make any sense and were true then it is obvious that I don’t qualify to remain in a government by any case. If a probe indicts me, I will step down.