In further embarrassment to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, its MLA Nand Kishore Gujjar, who led a dharna in the UP assembly on Tuesday over police atrocities on him, alleged that corruption was rampant in the state.
Amidst thumping of desks by the entire House, even the treasury benches, and shouts of “shame, shame” by the opposition, Gujjar said that the officers were minting money by taking commissions from all development works and the rate of commission had increased to around 22 per cent.
Raising the issue during the zero hour in the assembly on Wednesday, the BJP MLA said the government should probe the assets of the officers as they were indulging in corruption while their wives were running non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that were also minting money through government schemes.
Claiming that the district authorities of Ghaziabad had implicated him in criminal cases as he was opposing their corrupt activities, the MLA admitted that he had three cases against him relating to public protests but the authorities had filed nine more fake cases against him. “I want justice and action against the officials,” he said.
Responding to the charges levelled by the BJP MLA, Labour Minister Swami Prasad Maurya said he had left the matter on the discretion of assembly Speaker Hriday Narayan Dikshit to decide on the issues raised by the member.
The Speaker too rejected the notice and did not give any ruling.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also, while mentioning about the BJP MLA’s statement, only said that he was happy that opposition came to the support of his party member.
“I welcome everyone of you (opposition) to join the BJP,” he said.