AMN / NEW DELHI
CONGRESS PARTY TUESDAY demanded resignation of Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju for his alleged role in corruption and fraud in a hydro-electric power project in his home state Arunachal Pradesh.
The Congress played an audio clip at a press conference in New Delhi that purportedly links Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju to alleged corruption and fraud in a hydro-electric power project in his home state Arunachal Pradesh.
“Kiren Rijiju’s role in this issue is under a cloud of suspicion. So he should be sacked or asked to resign till probe is complete,” the party said.
letter The Congress released the letter allegedly written by MoS Kiren Rijiju to Union Minister Piyush Goyal, requesting for the release of funds.
The Indian Express reported Tuesday that the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) named Rijiju, his cousin, a contractor in Arunachal Pradesh, Goboi Rijiju; and several top officials of the PSU in a 129-page report alleging corruption in the construction of two dams for 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project, one of the biggest hydro-electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh.
The report by CVO Satish Verma, sent to the CBI, CVC and the Ministry of Power in July this year, alleges an “elaborate conspiracy” involving contractors, NEEPCO officials and the West Kameng district administration to defraud NEEPCO and the government of funds that “may extend up to Rs 450 crore.”
Congress trying to blame Rijiju for its mistakes: BJP
BJP has rejected the charges against Union Minister Kiren Rijiju in the reported power project scam in Arunachal Pradesh and said that they as baseless.
Party Secretary Shrikant Sharma alleged that the Congress is trying to blame Mr. Rijiju for its mistakes as it was in the power at the Centre and in Arunachal Pradesh when the project
under question was sanctioned in 2005.
Mr. Sharma also insisted that the contractor, who is at the centre of allegations, is not Mr. Rijiju’s cousin.
Earlier, Congress demanded the sacking of the Minister alleging his involvement in the 450-crore rupees power scam.