Chaos in J&K Assembly over 25-acre land given 'free of cost' to ex-Sri Lankan cricketer

CPI (M) MLA MY Tarigami questioned the allotment of land "free of cost" and sought a reply from the government.

The Opposition MLAs raised concerns in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after reports emerged that former Sri Lankan cricketer was allotted land in the Kathua district "free of cost" to set up a bottling plant for his beverage company.

As per reports, Muralitharan's company, Ceylon Beverages, has been allotted 25.75 acres for a Rs 1,600 crore bottle-filling and aluminium can-manufacturing unit in Kathua.

CPM MLA MY Tarigami questioned the allotment of land "free of cost" and sought a reply from the government.

The CPM MLA accused the National Conference administration of violating norms and said the land belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir also raised concerns, describing the matter as “serious" and the issue needed to be looked into.

Responding on the matter, J&K minister Javed Ahmad Dar said the government had no information about the allocation of land to the former Sri Lankan cricketer and promised to look into it.

“This is a matter related to the revenue department. We do not have any information, and we will look into it to know the facts," Dar said in the Assembly.

(With inputs from PTI)