Vyapam scam: Cong, BJP accuse each other

The issue of deaths of people associated with the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam on Monday echoed in the political circles with the main opposition Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party Government levelling allegations and counter allegations against each other.

While talking to media persons, State Congress President Arun Yadav told, “At least 45 people, including accused and witnesses, associated with the scam have died so far. The Congress demands a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a Supreme Court-monitored agency in these deaths.”

He said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should recommend a CBI probe into the matter if he was clean.

He said Chouhan could recommend a CBI probe even though the High Court is monitoring the investigation. Yadav said an inquiry should also be held into the probe being carried out by the Special Task Force and monitored by the Special Investigation Team. He said the Congress would soon organise a statewide bandh to press its demand. A demonstration would be staged outside the Vidhan Sabha during the coming monsoon session.

led by leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Satyadev Katare, Congress legislators would try to put the state government in the dock over the issue in the House. Yadav said a trainee sub-inspector, who was recruited through the MPPEB and was receiving training in Sagar Police Academy, allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a pond in Sagar.

Raising questions, he said the trainee SI must have known how to swim, as it is taught during training. She could have committed suicide in any other way if she wanted.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Narottam Mishra said the Congress was playing politics over bodies and misleading public.

He said Jabalpur Medical College Dean Arun Sharma, who was found dead in Delhi yesterday, had nothing to do with the MPPEB scam. likewise, the trainee SI had nothing to do with the MPPEB scam.

Forest Minister Gaurishankar Shejwar said none of the 25 people the number of associated with the scam who have died as accepted by the government have died due to the scam. leader of the Opposition in Assembly Satyadev Katare said the STF and the SIT are trying to mislead the investigation. Only students have been arrested while brokers and other big fish in the scam are roaming freely.