Escorted by BJP leaders, Then-Venayak rep denies ‘favour’ by Dy CM

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

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SRINAGAR, Oct 28: Promoters of the 100 mw solar power plant at Chann Arrorian Kathua, Then-Venayak Energy on Wednesday claimed that the firm had got no undue favour by Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh or any other Minister or politician in establishment of its plant.

“We have no association with or support from any political party, be that NC, Congress, PDP or BJP”, Adil Mustafa Khan, representative of the joint venture said at a press conference held at a hotel in Lalchowk. However, Mr Khan was escorted by a number of BJP leaders and workers including the BJP’s Media Head Altaf Thakur. All the BJP workers later enjoyed kabab and kanti with Mr Khan in presence of mediapersons.

Mr Khan with another associate claimed that the solar plant had been “sanctioned” to ‘Then India Energy’ at Kathua in 2013 when Omar Abdullah was Chief Minister and Minister of Power and Aga Ruhullah was Minister of Science & Technology. Now NC’s chief spokesman, Aga Ruhullah had on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP-PDP government for extending undue favours to a particular firm in establishing its 100 mw solar power plant at the cost of Rs 700 crore.

Mr Khan held former Principal Secretary Power Sandeep Nayak squarely responsible for the “delay” in signing of Power Purchase Agreement. “Every IAS and KAS officer should respect his chair. When Mr Nayak heard of Rs 700 figure, he thought a part of it would go to his pocket”, Khan said. He said that he had obtained a PPA draft from West Bengal but Mr Nayak did not sign it.

When mediapersons pointed out some BJP leaders’ presence and asked him why he was being escorted by the workers of a political party, he claimed that none of them was from BJP. However, BJP leader Mr Thakur remained unmoved.

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