An unrelenting Opposition, led by the Congress, on Monday, did not allow the Rajya Sabha to function for the second consecutive day demanding Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s resignation on a CAG report on irregularities in loan extended to his family-linked Purti Group. Gadkari, however, asserted the Government auditor has nowhere named him as a wrong-doer and there was no charge of corruption or misappropriation against him.
Even as the Congress raised a din and several party MPs repeatedly stormed into the well of the House shouting slogans, Gadkari read out a statement saying the CAG report was deliberately being “misinterpreted for political reasons.”
Amidst bedlam in the House with the Congress trying to disturb the Minister, Gadkari said the CAG nowhere named him as a wrong-doer and there was no “adverse comment against me. There is neither any indictment nor any charge of corruption or misappropriation against me of the Purti Sakhar Karkhana ltd (PSKl)” he said.
The Minister, who had written a letter to the Rajya Sabha chairman to clarify since his name was raked up by the Congress on Friday last, said the principal loan amount of Rs46.63 crore was provided by State-run Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to Purti Group for a 22-MW bagasse-based power plant in Nagpur and major part of the interest was repaid.
Stating that he was chairman of PSKl from 2000 to 2011, Gadkari said he was neither an MP nor held any public office in the Government when the 13-year loan was extended to the firm in 2008-09.
Moreover, PSKl has settled the loan amount by repaying the full principal and major part of the interest, amounting to 84.81 per cent of the total outstanding, the Minister said.
Congress members were not satisfied with Gadkari’s clarification and continued to shout slogans and vociferously countered by the treasury benches. The House then saw the first adjournment followed by similar scenes during the Question Hour in the pre-lunch session and post-lunch forcing Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien to finally adjourn the House for the day at 4 pm.
Earlier, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Opposition had heard the Minister’s statement and said Gadkari did not touch upon his role. Terming the usage of loan without seeking prior permission as “cheating,” Azad said the Minister has to resign.
Backing his demand, CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said every scam should be probed and till then the Minister should resign to ensure impartial investigation. Congress leader Anand Sharma urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to walk the talk as he time and again claimed zero tolerance against corruption. He also charged the BJP with changing its yardstick on corruption after coming to power.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters outside Parliament, Gadkari said he was contemplating moving a privilege motion against Sharma after the latter made certain allegations against him in the Rajya Sabha.
The Minister said he was screening Sharma’s statements before taking any action.