Reiterating his allegation that Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat was involved in the alleged Dhaincha seeds scam as the then Agriculture Minister in 2010, the Jan Sangharsh Morcha chief Raghunath Singh Negi led a delegation which submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor Krishan Kant Paul through the Vikasnagar Sub Divisional Magistrate here on Monday.
Negi stated that the single member Tripathi commission was formed in 2013 to inquire into this alleged scam. The commission had recommended action against Rawat on three points. He also pointed out that Rawat had recently been given a clean chit by the cabinet on this issue whereas the subject had not been inquired into in detail.
Negi said that during his term as the State Agriculture Minister in 2010, Rawat had passed orders for purchase of 15,000 quintals Dhaincha seeds when the demand for 9680 quintals. He alleged scheming through tenders in the purchase of these seeds at prices higher than those for which the same were available in the local market. Negi alleged that the then agriculture minister ordered suspension of a few departmental officials and later cancelled their suspension stating that their suspension would affect agricultural schemes adversely. later, during the term of the Congress-led state government, a single member SC Tripathi inquiry commission was formed to probe into this case. After detailed inquiry, the Tripathi commission had recommended action against Rawat on three points including the ordering of suspension of departmental officials and then withdrawal of the same order, making recommendation without ensuring seed demand process and showing disapproval for a vigilance inquiry into the role of the agriculture secretary. The commission had also stated that Rawat was liable under the Prevention of Corruption Act and that the Government should examine this and take action
Negi opined, “It is unfortunate the charges levelled by the Tripathi inquiry commission on Rawat have been rejected, even though they are still valid. In order to save itself, the State Government has sidelined the inquiry report.”