The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he should immediately sack the newly appointed speaker of JK Assembly Nirmal Singh for speaking against the Army.
Nirmal Singh, had recently said that Army is harassing people.
Recently, a report in the Indian Express said that on a 2,000-sq-m plot that is part of an estimated 12 acres bought in 2014, Nirmal Singh has begun constructing a house that has prompted a strong protest letter from the Corps Commander of the Army’s 16 Corps, Lt General Saranjeet Singh.
The letter, dated March 19, 2018, addressed directly to Nirmal Singh — he was Deputy CM then — Lt Gen Singh said that the house Nirmal Singh has constructed is illegal and “has implications on the security of a major ammunition storage facility as well as the safety of all personnel living in close vicinity of the ammunition depot”.
Lt Gen Singh wrote: “May I request you to reconsider construction of residential accommodation in close proximity of the ammunition depot being a potential safety hazard.”
Singh however has called the Army’s objections as ‘politically motivated’.
“We at Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu feel shocked and anguished over the recent statement given by Dr. Nirmal Singh, Hon’ble Speaker, J&K State Legislative Assembly accusing “Indian Army of harassing people”. The Chamber feels that a person holding the second highest constitutional post in the State of J&K and speaking against the credentials of Indian Army by such irresponsible utterances is not in national interest,” the chamber said in a statement.
The statement also added that Singh had not only brought a bad name to the ‘pride of Dogras’ but also to the party he belongs to.
“The Chamber or for that matter any Indian will always stand by Indian Army in any given situation and shall not tolerate such statement from anyone whosoever it may be. Chamber feels that by speaking against the army the speaker has not only brought a bad name to the pride of “Dogras” but has also brought a bad name on the political party he belongs to. The Chamber requests your good selves to intervene in the matter and sack him immediately not only from holding this prestigious post but also from the party lines,” the statement said.
