Srinagar, Oct 3: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari has demanded a transparent inquiry into the alleged purchase of land on the outskirts of Srinagar by a non-domicile for hotel construction, questioning the government over the processing and approval of the transaction.
Reacting to remarks by Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Bukhari said the attempt to “brush aside” his earlier revelation had raised further questions.
In a post on social media, Bukhari wrote: “The desperate attempt by a ruling party leader and Chief Minister’s advisor to brush aside my recent revelation about the purchase of land on the outskirts of Srinagar by a non-domicile for hotel construction only raises more serious questions.”
“Instead of trying to downplay the matter, the government must give clear answers: Who allowed a non-domicile to purchase this land? Who facilitated the deal? Who processed and approved the revenue records? And, who authorised the transaction?” he wrote.
Bukhari said the Revenue Department was under the direct control of the Chief Minister and argued that the government could not distance itself from the issue.
“Revenue Department is under the direct control of the Chief Minister. Therefore, the government cannot evade responsibility or hide behind political statements,” he said.
“People deserve to know how such a land purchase was allowed in the first place,” Bukhari added.
He further called for accountability if the transaction was found to have violated the applicable domicile and land laws.
“If the purchase has taken place in violation of the existing domicile and land laws, those responsible for facilitating or enabling it must be identified and held accountable,” he wrote.
Bukhari also demanded a probe and public disclosure of its findings.
“The government must come clean, order a transparent inquiry, and make the findings public, in the larger intrest of J&K and its people,” he said.
The remarks come amid a political exchange between Bukhari and Wani over an alleged land transaction linked to a proposed hotel project near Srinagar. Wani has disputed Bukhari’s allegations and said the government had neither allotted land to the person at the centre of the controversy nor granted permission for the hotel construction.
