Govt asks ‘bribe giver’ Bhat to remain tightlipped, reinforces his security; Party action stalled

He is continuing as NC’s District Secretary in Ganderbal: Dar

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Oct 7: In contrast to his dismissal as Chief Minister’s constituency representative in Ganderbal, key character of the ‘bribe-for-berth’ drama, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, is continuing as the ruling National Conference’s District Secretary. Party leadership as well as government functionaries have asked him to remain confined to his home and tightlipped over the controversial Syed Yousuf death episode even as the party action against him has been stalled and six more Police guards have been provided to protect him from “potential mischief mongers”, including politicians and media.

Amid perennial conflict between dozen-odd NC activists, notably Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Ghulam Ahmad Saloora and Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Chief Minister and MLA of Ganderbal, Omar Abdullah, had appointed Bhat as his constituency representative on January 12, 2010. Formal order was issued by CM’s Political Advisor, Devinder Singh Rana, vide No: PS/Pol/Adv/HCM/J/2010/163.

Immediately after Bhat was found to have paid an amount of Rs 84 Lakh to another NC activist, Syed Yousuf, purportedly for buying him a Ministerial berth and a seat in Legislative Council, CM’s Secretariat directed DC Ganderbal, vide No: HCM/PS/2011-292/Sgr Dated 30-09-2011, to withdraw his status and make it clear to officials of all of departments. Mir lost no time to accordingly issue a circular.

Though it was not immediately clear whether he was forced to vacate or it was his own decision, Bhat immediately shifted his residence from a government accommodation in Tulsi Bagh to his village of Repora in Ganderbal. Party leadership avoided to react but insiders maintained that in view of his act of extorting money from different contacts and trying to buy a ministerial berth through unfair means, Bhat would be expelled permanently from NC’s basic membership. Reports said that all of his envious detractors stressed on “exemplary action” against Bhat.

However, the situation changed suddenly. Messengers dropped in with the assurance that the party would not initiate any action against him and would also do its best to get his money back and save him from criminal proceedings if he remained not reachable for media and “mischief mongers” of rival political outfits. He was also assured adequate police protection. Within hours of Bhat’s desired response, six more Police guards were deployed for his security. One selection grade constable, one SPO and four constables were already attached to Bhat as his guards.

“Our party is deeply concerned on his behaviour of bringing slur not only on National Conference and the state government but also on our clean leader and Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) and our President (Farooq Abdullah). We are initiating the process of his dismissal as District Secretary and expulsion from basic membership of the party”, NC’s Kashmir Province Secretary, Ghulam Ahmad Saloora, said. Himself a resident of Ganderbal, Saloora had operated as then Chief Minister and MLA Dr Farooq Abdullah’s constituency representative a decade ago.

However, the party’s Kashmir Province President, Ali Mohammad Dar, told Early Times that Bhat was continuing not only as a member but also as the party’s District Secretary in Ganderbal. “There is a set procedure for every disciplinary action in our party. We can’t remove and expel him arbitrarily’, Dar asserted. He added that only after orders from the high command, Bhat could be served a notice and asked to explain his conduct. His defence would be assessed by a committee. In case there was consensus over his misconduct, an action could be taken against Bhat.

In the last seven days, scores of mediapersons made sustained efforts to talk to Bhat but almost all of them returned empty-handed. His mobile phone has been permanently switched off. Police guards at his fully shuttered entrance told journalists that Bhat was in no mood to interact with anybody and he had directed them not to allow in any strangers. Dozens of television news crews had to be content with just a pan on Bhat’s iron-gate and house exterior.

Nevertheless, KNS today claimed to have gained access to Bhat and taken his first ever interview after the September 29^th episode. According to KNS, Bhat refused to corroborate some of the vital facts that his colleague and another “bribe giver” Abdul Salam Rishi of Kokernag had revealed to media on Thursday. He, however, admitted that he had paid an amount of Rs 84 Lakh to the deceased Syed Yousuf so as to secure a seat in Legislative Council and a berth in the Council of Ministers. He declined to divulge much and insisted that he would depose only before a judicial commission.

Bhat claimed that NC had been completely wiped out in Ganderbal in 2002. He claimed credit for Omar Abdullah’s victory in 2008 Assembly elections and asserted that it was he who had made it possible. He said that there were 50-dd leaders in Ganderbal who were all pulling the strings of the party in opposite directions. According to him, his party colleagues had caused irreparable damage to the party,

His detractors, however, alleged that Bhat was “an infamous extortionist” who collected money from everybody from toll post operators at Ganderbal and Sonmarg to sand excavators in Sindh nullah. They said that Bhat had also got over 50 boys and girls recruited in government and other public undertakings against “cash payment”. He had unbridled excess to the offices and residences of the NC top brass, including Chief Minister and a number of his Cabinet colleagues.

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