Mumbai: Dissatisfied with his own government’s action on complaints of corruption against senior bureaucrats in the State, BJP MLA Anil Gote has decided to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek an inquiry.
Mr. Gote has sought a meeting with Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh to submit files allegedly showing corruption by senior State government bureaucrats who, he claims, are being protected by the State government.
“I have been in contact with the authorities both in the State and at the Centre with documentary proof of corruption and formation of shell companies by a cartel of senior bureaucrats in the State. Despite my repeated follow-ups and eagerness to submit available documents to the competent authority, I am being purposely denied [a chance] to do so,” Mr. Gote told The Hindu .
He said that it doesn’t matter whether a new party takes charge of the administration, as the actual power rests with officers. “Unless one starts cleaning the system of officials, nothing will change,” he said.
The list of officers that Mr. Gote wants to submit to the PMO with documentary evidence includes several former and serving senior bureaucrats. “Nothing is happening at the State level, since the officers have protection from the bureaucracy here,” he said. He said he wouldn’t want to comment on the BJP’s rule in the State as the issue is being continuously sidelined by the bureaucracy.
“My job is to present all facts and files to the PMO. I’m sure he will direct the State government to take action,” he said, adding he will be visiting the PMO on August 22.
Earlier, he had come out against alleged corruption by IAS officer and MSRDC vice-chairman Radheshyam Mopalwar, who was executing land acquisition for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s pet project, the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Corridor. Audio clips of Mr. Mopalwar allegedly talking about bribes had surfaced during the recently-held monsoon session of the Assembly.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced Mr. Mopalwar’s removal from the post and a detailed inquiry into the matter.
