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Payoff remarks: J&K House gives VK Singh 20 days to file reply
Ehsan Fazili/TNS

The Row The former Army Chief had, in an interview to a Delhi-based TV channel on September 23, made certain revelations about payments being made to the ministers of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947

Srinagar, October 24
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul has issued a notice to former Army Chief Gen VK Singh (retd), asking him to explain in 20 days “his position regarding certain revelations” made by him during an interview about the payments made to ministers in the state.

More than two weeks after the Assembly was adjourned, a spokesperson of the Legislative Assembly said the Assembly Secretariat, under the orders of the Speaker, had issued a notice to General VK Singh (retd).

The former Army Chief, after a report in the print media on the use of secret funds, had, in an interview to a Delhi-based channel on September 23, made certain revelations about payments being made to ministers of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947.

The notice has been issued in response to a Breach of Privilege notice given by 15 ministers and members during the recent brief session of the state legislature.

The spokesperson said General VK Singh had been given 20 days to explain his position on the issue so that further course of action could be decided under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the J&K Legislative Assembly.

The revelations made by Gen VK Singh rocked both Houses of the state legislature on the very first day of the brief session on September 30. NC ministers and members of the Assembly moved a privilege motion in the House against the former Army Chief. His remarks dominated the brief session of the state legislature, with different political parties, including the Congress, the National Conference, the PDP and the BJP, speaking on similar lines. Two days before the conclusion of the session, the Assembly adopted a resolution demanding a time-bound inquiry into the revelations made by the former Army Chief.