Cricket scam continues to rock J&K house

The multi-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam disrupted proceedings in the assembly for the third day on Tuesday, as ruling National Conference MLAs batted for party chief and union minister Farooq Abdullah.

The multi-crore Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam disrupted proceedings in the assembly for the third day on Tuesday, as ruling National Conference MLAs batted for party chief and union minister Farooq Abdullah.

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NC members demanded expunging of comments against Abdullah — who is not a member of the House — by opposition People’s Democratic Party MLAs from the proceedings.

The PDP has targeted Abdullah, president of the JKCA, for misappropriation of funds received from the Board of Control for Cricket in India through bogus accounts.

PDP puts the scam figure at Rs50 crore. The JKCA, however, pegs the “shortfall” at Rs25 crore.

After a 25-minute slanging match between NC and PDP members, speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone directed the secretariat to expunge comments against Abdullah.

Later, PDP leader Muzaffar Beig said, “Farooq Abdullah is being treated as a holy cow by the central government… When (Suresh) Kalmadi could be booked on charges of corruption, why not Farooq Abdullah?”

Protests and walkouts over the scam have rocked the assembly since March 10.