Opposition sticks to Chouhan’s resignation, BJP wants an end to politicization of the scam
New Delhi : The Supreme Court’s order for a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam triggered a war of words between the Congress and the BJP, with both sides taking credit for the order issued on Thursday. While the Congress asked Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan to quit on moral grounds as he was always opposed to the CBI probe, the BJP hit back claiming Chouhan himself ordered a SIT (special investigation team) probe into the scam in first place and volunteered a CBI probe and the Congress better stop doing politics in the matter.
Both parties welcomed the apex court’s order. The Congress sought Chouhan’s resignation for a fair probe, while the BJP said the Court had actually acted on the state government’s request for the CBI probe and it was not the state government but the High Court that had blocked the CBI probe as it was already monitoring the SIT probe.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, spearheading the campaign for a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe, said the country’s faith in the apex court had increased while Chouhan hit back, saying the Congress leaders were defaming Madhya Pradesh as if it were a state of murderers.
Under relentless Congress attack for the large number of deaths of people allegedly linked with the scam in the state’s professional recruitment examination and the delay in agreeing to a CBI probe, Chouhan defended himself, saying had he wished there would have been no probe but he wanted the system to be set right and made more transparent.
Calling the Vyapam scam probe his ‘trial by fire’, Chouhan said he was ‘grateful’ to the Supreme Court for accepting his request and ordering a CBI probe and urged the agency to begin investigation at the earliest to bring out the truth.
Attacking Congress, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “Let the CBI probe take place and Congress should not do politics on it any more. Congress should keep quiet and let the CBI probe take place.”
BJP leaders, however, noted that the court had taken note of the Chouhan government’s plea. “Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi clearly enunciated before the Supreme Court the state government’s stand that it desires a CBI probe. It must be pointed out that the government had already approached the High Court with a similar request. The apex court has accepted it and also appreciated the AG’s stand”, BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.
Under relentless Congress attack for the large number of deaths of people allegedly linked with the scam in the state’s professional recruitment examination and the delay in agreeing to a CBI probe, Chouhan defended himself, saying had he wished there would have been no probe but he wanted the system to be set right and made more transparent.
