The statement of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Madhya Pradesh president and MP Nandkumar Singh Chouhan stirred a controversy over the functioning of the lokayukta in the State. Chouhan while talking to mediapersons in Betul had on Sunday said, "The raids conducted by the lokayukta by going proactive were carried out as per the desire and order of the Chief Minister, lokayukta could not do this on its own."
Though, the lokayukta PP Naolekar rejected the claim of the state BJP chief and said, "We do not act on anybody's desire or order, rather we work as per the lokayukta Act."
In any case, the statement of the senior BJP leader raised a controversy, besides putting up a big question mark over the working of the lokayukta in the State. The statement on the one hand created doubts over the lokayukta institution and on the other hand strengthened the Opposition and the rights activist's allegations of selective action by the ombudsman besides raising serious doubts over the Chief Minister's zero tolerance claims over corruption.
Former leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Singh while talking to 'The Pioneer' said, "The statement of the BJP state president is a serious issue and the lokayukta should immediately step down besides the Ombudsman should also make it clear whether he gave a clean chit in the dumper scam case on instructions of the Chief Minister."
Singh said it has now become clear that the clean chit provided to the Chief Minister in the dumper scam case was provided under pressure from the Chief Minister.
Right to Information (RTI) activist Ajay Dubey said, "I have written a letter to the lokayukta to make his stand clear over the statement of Chouhan and if his statement that creates doubts over impartial functioning of the Ombudsman institution is incorrect then in the public interest the lokayukta should immediately take action against Chouhan."
Dubey further said that if the lokayukta feels that the statement of Chouhan is incorrect then he should file defamation and contempt cases against him else it would be judged that the BJP leader has uttered truth in the absence of mind or in exuberance.