NEW DELHI, June 27:
Demanding removal of Union ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde and Vilasrao Deshmukh in Adarsh housing society scam, the BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to order a high-level probe into the allegations made by the ministers against each other while appearing before a commission investigating the matter.
“UPA ministers are blaming each other in the Adarsh society scam. This clearly shows that a huge corruption was done and now blame game is going on,” BJP general secretary and spokesperson J P Nadda told reporters at a press conference.
Mr Nadda said Mr Shinde, Union Minister for Power and Mr Deshmukh, Union Minister for Science and Technology were passing the buck on each other in relation with the files pertaining to the controversial society during their stint as Maharashtra chief minister.
“The BJP demands the Prime Minister order a probe into these serious charges. Both Mr Shinde and Mr Deshmukh should be removed from the Cabinet immediately to bring out the truth,” Mr Nadda added.
The BJP spokesperson said there were reports claiming that Mr Deshmukh “blindly” signed the documents, and this shows his work as a chief minister and now as a union minister.
“The UPA government and especially the Congress is a protector of corruption,” Mr Nadda commented.
Mr Deshmukh and Mr Shinde, who appeared before the two-member judicial commission, reportedly blamed each other and bureaucrats in the whole issue.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will also appear before the commission by June 30.
Mr Shinde had blamed Mr Deshmukh and Mr Chavan of clearing the Adarsh files.
Mr Deshmukh was the chief minister twice between 1999 and 2003 and 2004-2008.
The decision to allot land, claimed to be in the possession of Defence Ministry, to the society, and grant of additional floor space index to it was taken during his tenure as chief minister when he also held the Urban Development portfolio.
Besides the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department have also also probing the alleged multi-crore scam.
Adarsh society was meant for Kargil war widows and victims but several bureaucrats and politicians received flats allegedly violating the norms. (UNI)
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