J&K Assembly Erupts in Uproar Over Crores Spent on Chartered Flights, MLAs Demand Investigation
Jammu, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed intense uproar on Thursday as heated exchanges erupted between treasury and opposition benches over the alleged expenditure of crores of rupees on chartered flights and other expenses in the Union Territory. The controversy was sparked by an Independent MLA’s demand for an investigation into the utilization of public funds for high-profile guests and events.
The ruling National Conference (NC) and Congress lawmakers strongly advocated for the formation of a House Committee to probe the large-scale spending on chartered flights and other associated costs, arguing that such expenditures must be scrutinized for transparency and accountability.
The debate intensified when Independent MLA Shabir Ahmed Kullay from Shopian brought up the issue while discussing the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s grants in the Assembly. He questioned the legitimacy of the extravagant spending, stating that official documents revealed that over Rs 35 crore had been spent on facilitating guests, including through chartered flights, in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have obtained details of this massive expenditure through a cut motion. The spending is exorbitant and warrants a thorough investigation,” Kullay asserted, emphasizing that the misuse of state exchequer funds must be addressed.
Further intensifying the debate, Kullay demanded clarification regarding the individuals who had benefited from these flights and the rationale behind such enormous expenditures. “Who authorized the use of these funds? Who traveled on these chartered flights? Is this not a blatant example of bureaucratic corruption? This must be investigated immediately,” he said.
The demand for an inquiry received strong support from lawmakers across party lines, particularly members of the NC, Congress, and several Independents, who vocally insisted on the establishment of a House Committee to investigate the expenditure.
Senior NC legislator Javaid Beigh echoed Kullay’s concerns, stating, “We demand the formation of a House Committee to probe this matter in depth.” Congress and NC legislators joined the call for accountability, standing in unison to press for an immediate probe.
Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat reinforced the demand, stating, “Public money has been spent, and this issue falls well within the Assembly’s jurisdiction. The allegations raised are serious and merit an inquiry to determine the facts. To maintain the integrity of this House, a formal investigation must be initiated.”
However, BJP legislators opposed the demand, arguing that the funds were primarily used for organizing and hosting international guests during the G20 summit and for the promotion of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP leader Balwant Mankotia defended the expenditure, stating, “The Chief Minister has the authority to allocate such funds as per the government’s policies. Rather than focusing on a probe, we should examine similar expenditures dating back to 2009, when the previous government was in power.”
His statement provoked a sharp reaction from the treasury benches, leading to a heated exchange of words between the two sides. NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq countered by demanding full disclosure of the beneficiaries of the expenditure, stating, “Who approved this? Who were the people for whom this money was spent?”
As the ruckus escalated, Independent MLAs Shabir Ahmed Kullay and Mehraj Malik marched to the well of the House and handed over documents to the Speaker, claiming they contained evidence supporting their allegations.
Meanwhile, BJP legislator Pawan Gupta dismissed the accusations as baseless, arguing that “the Assembly should not be used for leveling unverified allegations. If there is concrete proof, it must be presented properly.”
Amid the chaos, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened to restore order in the House. He acknowledged the concerns raised and assured the legislators that the Chief Minister would address them in his reply to the grants discussion.
“Some significant issues have emerged during this debate. The Chief Minister is present in the House, and he will provide a response to clarify the matter. I urge all members to maintain decorum and allow the discussion to proceed in an orderly manner,” the Speaker stated.
Despite the Speaker’s intervention, the issue remained unresolved, with opposition and Independent MLAs continuing to demand a formal probe. The controversy is expected to intensify further in the coming days as political parties take strong positions on the matter.
