Referring to the 2013 disaster relief scam, leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt alleged that the Congress Government in the State had become synonymous with scams. “It is proving difficult to keep counts of the scams that are tumbling out during the three scam-tainted years of the Congress regime. However, things speeded up after Harish Rawat became the Chief Minister,” he said, adding that his party would take the matter to the public court and would fight unless and until each one of the guilty is put behind bar.
Dubbing the State Government constituted inquiry committee with Chief Secretary in the chair as ‘eyewash’ Bhatt said the State Government must go for a CBI probe. “Plethora of scams are staring the people in the face. We may cite disaster relief kit scam and rent scam. Money was supposed to be provided to the rescued people so as to enable them to go back home without any inconvenience. However, what has come out is that ineligible persons had been compensated. When the district administration sought permission from the State Government to get back the amount mistakenly paid the cabinet refused to act.
They rather legitimised the pocketing of money meant for the needy by the unscrupulous greedy people. We have come to learn that relief was disbursed through fake societies formed to grab relief money. later, they awarded work worth Rs7600 crore without following tender procedure.” Bhatt further alleged that the details related to relief kit scam had been submitted to the Speaker of the Assembly Govind Singh Kunjwal. “However, the inquiry officer has given clean chit to the accused,” the BJP leader said.
“The kit consisted of five kg of pulse, two liter of refined oil, 100 gram each of turmeric, chilly and coriander powder, one kg of Tata salt and six match boxes. Its price was quoted higher than the market rate. It was supposed to be distributed among the disaster-affected people. However, in reality, the kit was not distributed at all,” he said. “Besides, money was looted by the state government officials in the name of fuel reimbursement,” the BJP leader said.