Cong seeks high-level probe into J&K health insurance 'bungling'

With Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik cancelling the state's tie up with Reliance General Insurance for mandatory mediclaim facilities to the government employees and pensioner, the Congress Monday sought a high-level probe into the "bungling".

J&K Congress chief Gulam Ahmed Mir also demanded a probe into the alleged "political appointments" on extraneous grounds in J&K Bank and other government services during the previous PDP-BJP regime.

"We demand a high level probe into each of the shady affairs including the insurance scam involving Anil Ambani's General Reliance Insurance, besides the recruitment scam in J&K Bank and other appointments in various government services during the previous regime," said Mir.

Mir said the recent revelations by Governor Malik has exposed the messy affairs, which prevailed during the PDP-BJP regime.

Governor Malik cancelled Thursday the state government's tie up with Reliance General Insurance for mandatory group mediclaim policy to the government employees, saying there were "some bungling" in it.

The decision came after the Reliance insurance for the state government employees and pensioners had sparked a political row.

After initial criticism over awarding of the contract, Reliance General Insurance had issued a statement claiming that the company won the contract after a rigorous and transparent competitive tender process in which seven insurers had participated".

Demanding the probe, Mir said the revelations by the governor have "vindicated the Congress stand and substantiated the candidates' allegations in the recent past, but the PDP-BJP government and the authorities always remained in denial mode".

"It is the question of dignity of the highest office in the state now and only a credible probe and strict follow up action would meet the ends of justice," he added.

Mir said the congress party held a series of protests all over the state "against the misgovernance, misrule, corruption, favouritism and nepotism, in every sphere of government's activities, especially the bungling in the government jobs".

"The BJP, however, till its last day in the government, kept claiming that everything was fair and all right and that the government will last its full term due to complete understanding and harmony within it," he added.

Governor Malik whipped up a political storm recently by disclosing that the politicians had set aside the J&K Bank's selection list of 582 candidates for appointing their political workers.

The appointments had taken place during the erstwhile PDP-BJP coalition government's rule in the northern state.

The Congress chief asked people to question the BJP, which he said, was
He hoped "the governor would be allowed to go ahead in the current exercise against the high profile people involved in these matters and beneficiaries of big contracts, illegally, as disclosed."