Recently, there were media reports that crores of rupees are being spent by the Government of India and the Jammu & Kashmir Government for funding the separatists for their foreign visits, accommodation, logistics, security, etc. A PIL was filed on this issue by advocate M.L. Sharma before the Supreme Court questioning such funding by the Government to separatists who are acting against the interests of the state. Today, on 8 September 2016, a bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Anil R Dave has agreed to hear this PIL. It is reported that the Supreme Court remarked: “We also share the same feeling”, when advocate M L Sharma sought an immediate intervention of the Supreme Court on this issue. The Supreme Court has fixed September 14 to hear the matter in detail.
Reports suggest that in the petition it is stated that just over the last five years, India has spent Rs 356 crore on these separatists’ security, travel and hotel stays. The government has also spent Rs 21 crore on putting up these separatists in luxury hotels and Rs. 26.43 crore on fuel for them to travel around and spread their anti-India venom.
The PIL has also claimed that this expenditure was levied on taxpayers’ shoulders without informing the Parliament and the CAG has also never adduced any audit report on how these funds were used while the money was used to wage a war against the country.
The petitioner of the PIL has sought initiation of criminal prosecution against those who have illegally authorised release of this money from the consolidated fund of India.
The PIL has also urged for immediately stopping the funds from the government to separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.
It also sought a declaration that the funding is “unconstitutional and illegal” and must be stopped at once because the government cannot be allowed to provide money to those who are acting against the interest of the nation.
