Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 6: Recently appointed as the Minister of State (MoS) in Mehbooba's Cabinet, Asiea Naqash is likely to be hit by one more major controversy as her affidavit filed with the Election Commission for Assembly polls 2014 continues to reveal fishy information about her educational qualifications.
Following reports regarding the same in media in December 2015, Asiea who is Minister of state and has been given an important portfolio of Health and Social Welfare had stated that she would rectify the errors in her poll affidavit.
But reports informed that the election commission hasn't accepted her plea of rectifying anything in the affidavit unless the proper documents were submitted that could substantiate her claim.
Even after taking oath once again in Mehbooba's cabinet on April 4, this year, Asiea's educational qualifications continues to remain suspicious on the official website of the Election Commission, putting a question mark over the credibility of the government in the state. The poll affidavit continues to show that the Minister got a law degree before completing her graduation.
As per the declaration, Naqash completed her LLB in 1992 from Kashmir University followed by bachelor's degree in 1996. Although five-year integrated BA-LLB course was started at Kashmir University in 2007, the first batch passed out only in 2012.
On December 18, last year when the news came to fore for the first time, the minister termed it a 'minor abberation', saying ' we should not focus on such small things. We should focus more on governance and developmental issues.
She had at that time stated that she will get the "mistakes corrected in the affidavit". But even as the new government has assumed office, these mistakes continue to pose questions at the credibility of Minister's educational background.
The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has already committed to giving transparent governance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who according to her have been reeling under the anarchic practices. Pertinently, on June 10, last year, under immense political pressure in a case involving his educational qualifications, Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar had to submit his resignation hours after a Delhi court directed his arrest. He was also sacked from the ministry.
Furthermore, the nomination papers filed by Asiea in 2014 had grabbed headlines for she claimed to possess assets summed up at 1,04,90,246 rupees. Her movable assests include; cash in hand 36000, bank deposits of 25,03,533 rupees, 2009 model Hyundai i20 worth 4,86,713 rupees, 2450 grams of gold worth 68,00,000 rupees, Shawls worth 3,60,000 and Silverware worth 7,00,000 rupees.
Though Asiea doesn't own agricultural land, the multi-millionaire lady has non-agricultural land of 4 kanals each at Sonamarg and Wathoora, having market value of 1,25,00,000 rupees. Naqash's residential house on 2200 sq.fts at Habak Naseem Bagh has an approximate market value of 1,75,00,000 rupees.
In her assets and liabilities statement, Naqash has shown a liability amounting to 16,79,847 rupees which includes a cash credit of rupees 16,00,000 and a car loan of 79,847 rupees.
Asiea is sister-in-law of PDP's MP Tariq Hamid Karra. |
