After high decibel allegations and counter allegations between Urban Development Minister CP Singh and leader of Opposition Hemant Soren in the House, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Tuesday announced to look into the alleged irregularities in allotting the Housing Board’s land.
Intervening into the verbal dual between the two leaders which turned uglier on Tuesday, the Chief Minister assured all those found guilty would be punished without any if and but. “Democracy runs through discussion but personal comments without having any proof are not healthy things to have. My Government would not compromise with corruption. We have nothing to hide. I have called a meeting in relation to alleged irregularities in the Housing Board this evening itself. If anyone has any evidence (relating to involvement of the Minister) it should be shared with the Government,” said Das.
While the Chief Minister tried to play straight but his intervention between the dual of CP Singh and Hemant Soren can be considered a rap for the earlier. Both the heavyweights charged each other for indulging in corrupt practices and for keeping the Election Commission in dark about their assets openly in the Assembly but the CM’s announcement was silent on the allegations lavelled against Hemant by his own Cabinet colleague. Interestingly, none of the member from the ruling party came in Singh’s defence as he fought his battle throughout.
Earlier, the entire JMM came on its feet when CP Singh charged Soren for filing fraudulent affidavit with the Election Commission in 2009 while hiding his immovable assets, especially lands and plots. “Hemant Soren charged me that I have allotted land to myself or to my family members and provided wrong information to the Election Commission. I too charge him with the same and have sufficient evidence to establish this as well right now,” said the infuriated Minister. Singh at the same time also added that he was ready for any kind of probe.
This prompted the CM to announce about the investigation but dissatisfied Hemant continued. “When the charge is against a Cabinet Minister who is heading the Department, how a fair probe is possibleIJ FIR against one of our MlAs had been filed in a similar case. We demand that an FIR should be lodged against the Minister first,” said the Opposition leader.
He went ahead and painted the allegations against him as intimidation to frighten the Opposition members so that they can be silenced. “If you have documents then why not initiate action against meIJ Are you bullying us that ‘if you raise a voice against me I would file cases against you’IJ The House would not run in this way. We demand a CBI probe into the Housing Board matter,” said Hemant after CM’s reply and later even objected to the answers given by CP Singh to the members.
This apart, the Chief Minister came again into picture when he overruled the probe report of the RDD against Sachidanand Tigga, currently Gumla DSE, when members objected to the clean chit given to him.
“As the members are dissatisfied with the report a new committee headed by Ranchi Divisional Commissioner would re-investigate the allegations against the Gumla DSE and submit a report within a week. Just transferring any culprit is not a punishment. If he is found guilty, action would be taken against him,” assured the CM.