State defends Kashmir chief minister’s advisor
March 4th, 2010 - 11:48 pm ICT by IANSJammu, March 4 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government Thursday defended Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s advisor Mubarak Gul, who is caught in a controversy over allotment of a six-episode fictional serial for Doordarshan.
In a letter, placed in the state assembly, the Prasar Bharti Broadcasting Corporation, New Delhi, said that Gul has “neither signed a contract nor any payment has been made to him”.
The letter was read out by Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone in the house.
Gul was selected as one of the producers by Doordarshan for allotment of a Rs.18-lakh contract for producing a serial in June last year.
This revelation caused a great deal of embarrassment for Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as his rivals, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought to make an issue of it.
“This is straight corruption and violates the established constitutional provisions,” said PDP legislator Sayeed Mansoor Hussain. He raised the issue in the assembly Wednesday.
After the letter was placed on the table of the house, Gul and political advisor to chief minister D.S. Rana addressed a joint press conference.
Gul said he had not received any contract so far.
“I am associated with audio-visual media for long and this was wrong to suggest that I have done something new or attempted to violate my duties as an MLA (legislator).”
Rana said that the letter by Doordarshan, Delhi, was received in response to a letter written to the Prasar Bharti Broadcasting Corporation by the chief minister’s office.
“This should now put the whole controversy to rest,” Rana said.
- Omar embarrassed over advisor's deal with Doordarshan - Mar 04, 2010
- 'Corruption is policy of Omar government' - Feb 24, 2012
- Media continues boycott of Jammu & Kashmir House proceedings - Feb 28, 2012
- National Conference backs Omar on appointments - Feb 18, 2012
- Committed to equal growth in all Kashmir regions: PDP - Nov 30, 2011
- Soni promises new roadmap for Prasar Bharti - Jan 04, 2011
- Money-laundering case against suspended Prasar Bharti chief - Jun 21, 2011
- Doordarshan, AIR employees call off three-day strike - Dec 11, 2010
- Prasar Bharti justifies deal on telecast of 2010 Commonwealth Games - Oct 25, 2010
- Shunglu panel blames CWG OC for delay in executing contracts - Mar 29, 2011
- Shunglu panel indicts Delhi Lt Governor for inadequacies in CWG construction - Mar 24, 2011
- President clears court probe against Prasar Bharti chief - Dec 09, 2010
- CWG scam: Shunglu panel likely to submit three more reports - Mar 29, 2011
- PDP wants army special powers revoked in entire state - Nov 21, 2011
- Congress pulls up PDP for controversial J-K map - Feb 14, 2011
Tags: allotment, broadcasting corporation, chief minister, constitutional provisions, democratic party, doordarshan, embarrassment, gul, hussain, jammu and kashmir, jammu and kashmir government, kashmir, legislator, mohammad akbar, mubarak, New Delhi, prasar bharti, rana, rivals, state assembly