In a sensational claim the Aam Aadami Party (AAP) leader Anoop Nautiyal has said that the companies International Oil Corporation (IOC) and Nuwam limited, Hong Kong, with whom the Uttarakhand Government entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to invest 500 million dollars in the State, do not exist. The MoU was signed at New Delhi in presence of State Chief Minister Harish Rawat on December 09. The AAP has submitted a formal complaint to the Director of State vigilance Ashok Kumar requesting him to investigate the issue.
Addressing newsmen at party office on Wednesday Nautiyal alleged that it is really shocking to find that these two companies IOC, UAE and Kabul and Nuwam limited Hong Kong do not have any digital footprint and do not figure in the Hong Kong register of companies. He demanded an in depth inquiry in the matter as the whole issue smacks of money laundering. The AAP leader also released evidences like picture taken from the twitter account of Harish Rawat in which the MOU was being signed, press release of the State information department mentioning the agreement and the google screen shots of the failed searches made on internet about these companies. It seems it is blatant case of money laundering and needs to be investigated.
The MoU under question was signed between the IOC Chairman Faizal Karim and Secretary urban development and PWD D S Gabriyal. In the MoU, the IOC pledged to invest `3300 crore (500 million dollars) in lPG gas plants, Petroleum, roads, tunnels, power and elevated roads in the State. The MoU was signed in the presence of CM Rawat, CM advisor Ranjeet Rawat, Chief Principal Secretary to CM Rakesh Sharma and Additional resident commissioner, S D Sharma.
Nautiyal said that Harish Rawat should resign if the inquiry confirms the charges. “In that case the MoU should be immediately cancelled and State Government should offer an apology to the people of the State,’’ he said. The AAP leader said that the whole issue raises some important questions which needed to be answered like was CM aware about these companiesIJ What are the objectives of IOC and Nuwam limited and when were these companies formedIJ Nautiyal said that he got suspicious when he got to know about the MoU and did some research on his end.
The AAP leader said that the CM should himself answer the questions raised on the MoU byJanuary 20. He also placed the major opposition party BJP on dock for not being concerned on the issues of corruption in State.