DRAMA IN KASHMIR ASSEMBLY OVER CRICKET SCAM

Jammu Mar 13 (Only Kashmir): Pandemonium prevailed in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly here Tuesday after ruling National Conference (NC) members objected to the name of their party chief, union minister Farooq Abdullah, being mentioned in an alleged multi-crore rupee scam in the Jammu Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), of which he is the president.

Members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), who mentioned Abdullah's name, countered by trooping to the speaker's podium, shouting slogans against the NC and demanding a CBI probe into the "embezzlement" of funds.

They also contended that "such bungling cannot happen without the connivance of Farooq Abdullah and (JKCA chairman) Mohammad Aslam Goni". Goni is Abdullah's political advisor.

After protesting for more than half-an-hour during question hour, the PDP members walked out of the house.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said: "It was now an acknowledged fact that the scam has taken place. It is evident from the fact that Goni has filed an FIR in Srinagar against the JKCA officials who had opened bogus accounts."

Mehbooba asked for a CBI probe into the scam. "If (organising committee chairman) Suresh Kalmadi could be booked for the scam in the Commonwealth Games, why can't similar action be taken against those who were at the helm of affairs in the JKCA," she asked.(OK)