Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 16: Legislative Assembly today witnessed heated arguments between the Congress MLA from Banihal and Rural Development Minister with the former leveling allegations of corruption against the latter. However, the Minister offered to resign if the charges were established.
As soon as the Lower House assembled for the day, former Minister and Congress MLA from Banihal Vikar Rasool raised the issue of alleged malpractices in the implementation of MGNREGA scheme.
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“There are Rs 9 crore liabilities in Ramban district during the past two years even as MGNREGA guidelines clearly state that workers should be given their payments within 15 days”, Congress MLA said, adding “last year there was liability of Rs 4 crore but instead of clearing the same the Rural Development Department has allowed the same to increase by another Rs 5 crore during current financial year”.
Alleging rampant corruption in the Rural Development Department, the Congress MLA said, “transfers are made on day to day basis for monetary considerations and there is absolutely no focus on strict implementation of this Centrally Sponsored Scheme”.
“The Rural Development Department has released huge funds to clear the MNGREGA liabilities in different parts of the State but as far as Ramban district is concerned only a meager amount of few lakhs has been given despite the fact that this district has maximum number of labourers”, the Congress MLA said while accusing the Government of destroying the Centrally Sponsored Scheme and promoting malpractices.
He further informed the House that even funds have not been released for those works for which the foundation stones were laid by the then Chief Justice of India during his visit to the district in the month of October last year.
However, Minister for Rural Development refuted the allegations of corruption leveled by the Congress MLA and shouted: “prove it…..prove it”. “I will leave the Ministry if the allegations of corruption are proved right by the Member”, he said, adding “I dare the MLA to prove that money has exchanged hands in any of the transfer in my department”.
While interrupting the Minister, Congress MLA shouted, “don’t try to intimidate me…..everybody knows about your acts”. After protesting over the malpractices in the implementation of MNGREGA and leveling more allegations of corruption against the Minister, Vikar Rasool staged walkout.
Later, talking to media-persons in the Central Hall, Congress MLA said, “I raised the issue to seek an independent probe into the alleged malpractices and corruption in the rural development schemes but the Government instead of taking a serious note of the issue tried to put a veil”.
“The Government has destroyed this scheme and unless there is accountability nothing will improve”, he further said reiterating his allegations of large scale corruption against the Minister.
“Order a probe against advertisement scam and if the Minister is not found involved I will resign”, Vikar Rasool said.
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