Cong wants CM to step down, PM to speak up

Slamming the BJP government in Chhattisgarh for shielding the PDS rice scam accused, the Congress on Tuesday demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh to ensure a free and fair probe and a comprehensive and time-bound inquiry by a judge of either the High Court or the Supreme Court.

Taking note of The Indian Express report that named several senior government functionaries as alleged beneficiaries of the scam, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel raised the matter in the assembly on Tuesday. He asked the government to reveal the investigation details of the case so far. “Some employees have been suspended. We do not know where they are, what they have revealed. What is this government hiding from us?” he said.

About the mention of persons close to the Chief Minister Raman Singh as alleged beneficiaries of the scam, Baghel said: “I have always said that Raman Singh is personally involved. He has used PDS system in the state to fund his party’s activities for the last 10 years. Be it forged ration cards or commission from rice, they have earned over Rs 1 lakh crore in ten years.”

Baghel added: “I no longer trust this state’s police. If they can say that “CM Madam” refers to the wife of an ordinary employee, you can imagine their partiality,” he added.

“Raman Singh should immediately resign not only on moral grounds because his relatives are involved but also to ensure proper probe. It is now clear that his presence will affect the investigation,” he said.

At a news meet in New Delhi, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said: “It is pitiable, deplorable. It is something to be ashamed of that the commissions talked about in these documents are paid and received for adulteration of rice by the millers…who will mix bad rice with good rice and supply through the state public distribution system”.

The Congress also asked the PM to speak on the issue. “We believe the PM who has repeatedly said zero tolerance for corruption will not answer us with his eloquent silence again,” Singhvi said. The Indian Express has reported that while there are several references to the persons close to Raman Singh in the seized papers as alleged beneficiaries, the state police has defended the CM.

Source:: Indian Express