A capable and independent agency should conduct a time-bound investigation into all the cases of alleged corruption in the State Government from 2012 to the present. All the alleged corruption cases brought out in the public domain by whichever medium since creation of Uttarakhand State on November 9,2000 till the recent imposition of President’s rule should also be investigated apart from which the assets of all the successive State Chief Ministers till date should be probed and made public. These demands were among the issues raised in a memorandum submitted by the Pradesh Congress Committee to the Uttarakhand Governor here on Tuesday.
The PCC president Kishore Upadhyay who led the delegation later addressed the media at Congress Bhawan to clarify the issues and demands submitted by the party.
Referring to the recent politics and allegations of corruption, the PCC chief stated that such developments, defection politics and corruption allegations are marring the atmosphere in Uttarakhand.
He said, “The Statehood struggle was undertaken with the expectation that the State would set high standards in clean politics, efficient Governance and administration. But, somewhere the State has apparently failed to live up to these expectations with the recent political developments affecting the dignity of the State negatively. Considering this, we met the Governor Krishan Kant Paul and submitted our memorandum requesting necessary action on four specific issues. We have requested that all the allegations of corruption leveled by the BJP at the Government from 2012 to the present should be investigated by a capable and independent agency in a time-bound manner. The Congress party is open to any probe in this regard. Any case of corruption revealed by any medium from the time of State formation in November 9,2000 to the present imposition of President’s rule should also be investigated into by an independent and capable agency. In addition to this, the properties of all successive Chief Ministers till date should also be probed and the details should be made public. We have also demanded that the reports and recommendations made by all the inquiry commissions set up since creation of Uttarakhand State till date to probe into cases of alleged corruption should also be made public without delay. Our party has also requested that the Act to facilitate seizure of anonymous property should be brought into effect by means of an ordinance. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat was also to accompany us but we requested him to rest as his health condition had been affected as a result of the protest he undertook in support of the agitating guest teachers.”
Former law minister Dinesh Aggarwal and Uttarakhand Mahila Congress president Sarita Arya were also part of the PCC delegation which met the Governor.