BHOPAL : Barring a few, the State Ministers are maintaining a mysterious silence on the Vyapam issue. No minister, except Bhupendra Singh, Narottam Mishra, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Umashankar Gupta, has, so far, articulated the government’s stand on the issue.
Notwithstanding the clean chit given to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the High Court, most of the ministers did not come out in his support. After the complaint against Chauhan was found forged, BJP organisation had asked ministers to target former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh but none has come forward in support of Chauhan.
At a meeting of party’s legislature party, it was decided that a campaign christened ‘Sach Ka Bolbala- Jhoot Ka Mooh Kala’ would be launched but so far, the campaign remains only on paper. Singh’s effigies were not burnt in the constituency of any minister or ruling party MLA.
It is learnt that the reason why the campaign did not pick up is that Ministers Rampal Singh, Jayant Mallaiya, Vijay Shah, Maya Singh and Lal Singh Arya, known to be close to Chauhan, too have chosen to keep mum on the Vyapam issue. On the contrary, Babulal Gaur’s statement on the issue may land the government in trouble. Gaur created a sensation by stating that two biggies may be arrested in the mega scam.
BJP has been only planning to launch a scathing attack on the Congress on the Vyapam issue for around a year. On the other hand, Congress leaders have been attacking the government on various fronts. Despite all this, the ministers are wary of speaking out.
Sources said Vyapam had conducted examinations for recruitment in various departments including school education, transport, police, food and civil supplies, forests, health and medical education. The ministers heading these departments fear that if they attack the Congress or Digvijay Singh, they may have to face a counter-attack. And that is the last thing they want. This is the reason they are maintaining a safe distance from the Vyapam issue.
Fearing arrest, ‘unwell’ Tiwari skips SIT quizzing
Former Assembly Speaker Shrinivas Tiwari did not appear before Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing into the Vidhan Sabha recruitments on Monday. Tiwari was served notice to appear before the SIT. Tiwari cited his ill-health as a reason for his inability to come for interrogation. Jehangirabad Police Station CSP, Salim Khan said, Tiwari has cited his ill-health as reason for not coming. He said police are now exploring other options.
Earlier, Tiwari, in order to avert his arrest, had filed an anticipatory bail plea in the high court, which was rejected. According to sources, Tiwari is now preparing to file anticipatory bail plea in the Supreme Court for which he needs some time. Tiwari fears that he may be arrested after interrogation.
Police are trying to get the stay vacated on arrest of some officers of Vidhan Sabha Secretariat vacated so that they can be interrogated and booked.
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