Srinagar: As usual, the touts have got activated with their full energy soon after the formation of the new government.
They are usually seen to be busy in creating or maintaining closeness or otherwise posing to be so, with the people in power or their close relatives to impress and attract their new clients. They try to sit very close the Chief Minister or a Minister or their close relations to give an impression of his /her closeness with them to entice their clients who are eager for transfers/postings, promotions, employments or any other favors. They do so while in public and party meetings or while visiting to such people and usually take videos and photos which they later use to impress their clients.
There is a good number of such people and this is the only source of their income to enjoy a lucrative life style for them and their families. Many of them enjoy a security cover which works both as a status symbol and as a shield against their all odds as well. They loot lacks of rupees from aspirants of benefits every month and people keep on visiting them in good numbers every day. For most of the people they are the influential and popular public figures or powerful politicians and they fall as an easy prey into their net.
On meeting some of the clients of such a high profile person of south Kashmir I was astonished to know that the people having paid for transfers(mostly police), employments, postings etc were quite satisfied owing to the fact that the person is very close to a close relationship of the Chief Minister and as per them he could do anything he wants. Crores of rupees have been looted by such elements mostly from the poor and innocent people who later don’t even dare to ask for the money back even after when their purpose is not served. The irony is that these people have even such clients also in their list where you could, on feeling having been cheated/deceived, lodge a complaint and ask for the justice.
Apparently the new Chief Minister seems to be very tough about curbing the corruption but what she does to curb the elements, that are hell bent for corruption and misuse of power and are found revolving around her, needs to be watched.
Author is the sitting legislator from ruling PDP. He wishes to remain anonymous by name.