Chaos In J-K Assembly Over Land Given ‘Free Of Cost’ To Ex-Sri Lanka Cricketer, Govt Says ‘Will

A fresh row erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday after opposition leader CPI (M) MLA from Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of allocating land “free of cost” to a former Sri Lankan cricketer to set up an industrial unit. However, the J-K government refused to have any information about it, saying that it would look into the matter.

According to reports, former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan’s company ‘Ceylon Beverages’ has been allotted approximately 25.75 acres of land to set up a Rs 1,600 crore bottle-filling and aluminium can-manufacturing unit in Kathua. 

Questioning the allotment of land, Tarigami sought a reply from the government as he expressed seriousness on the issue. “A former Sri Lankan cricketer has been allotted land, that too without paying any penny. I want to ask the government if this is true,” he said as he raised the issue during the budget session.

Congress legislator GA Mir described the matter as “serious” as he intervened and stressed on the need for the matter to be looked into as to how a non-Indian cricketer was provided land without having to spend a penny, PTI reported.

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No Info On Matter, Govt Would Look Into It: J-K Minister Dar 

Reacting to the issue raised in the Assembly, J-K Minister Javed Ahmad Dar on Saturday stressed that the government does not have any information regarding the matter, but would look into it.

“This is a matter related to the revenue department. We do not have any information, and we will look into it to know the facts,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Earlier, the minister had said that the families that do not have land of their own are being provided five marlas of land for the construction of residential houses under PMAY.

“The land is provided subject to the verification by the revenue department,” Dar said, adding that nearly 498 families have been allotted land by the revenue department across the UT, while 442 cases are under consideration. 

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