Demanding a CBI probe against UP Mining minister Gyatri Prasad Prajapati, BJP state chief Dr laxmi Kant Bajpai charged that the Chief Minister has turned a blind eye to illegal mining for reasons best known to him and demanded sacking the minister.
“The CM has sacked a few ministers. But this list does not include Gyatri Prajapati. Why IJ Questions are being raised as to why the CM was protecting a tainted minister like Prajapati,” Bajpai told reporters in lucknow on Thursday.
He said it was the prerogative of the CM to rejig his cabinet and change in the cabinet is efected with an intention. “What is that intention IJ Is it to provide a clean administration IJ That being true, why has the CM spared a corrupt minister like Prajapati and Azam Khan, who always speaks against Hindus,” he querried.
The BJP leader demanded a CBI probe against Prajapati and said, “This is a matter of probe as to how Prajapati earned so much in the last three years. His family was BPl card holder a decade back and now his sons own companies. From where has this money come,” he asked.
Bajpai alleged that illegal mining was rampant in UP and several departments like mining, forest and environment, transport, labour. ESI and police were part of a big racket. “A part of this illegal money is shared by officials of these departments and therefore everyone prefer to look other way,” he charged.
The BJP state chief also gave details of illegal mining and how labourers have lost their lives during dubious transactions. He also gave details of VIP tax collected by Transport department. He claimed, “The government charge of legal mining and transportation through MMII form is Rs 2700 but the Transport department charges Rs 3500 which is termed as ‘VIP tax’.”
“I have written to the Chief Minister urging him to take action against the people involved in illegal mining. Failing which the party would be forced to protest against the government,” Bajpai warned.