A day after the Central Bureau of Investigation said the role of mining Ministers in Uttar Pradesh during the tenure of Akhilesh Yadav would be probed in connection with alleged illegal mining, the Samajwadi Party chief on Sunday said the “BJP has shown its true colours.”
Mr. Yadav suggested the raids by the CBI after reopening “old cases” were an attempt by the BJP-led Centre to stall the SP-BSP alliance. The two parties along with the RLD are close to formally announcing an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
“The Samajwadi Party is trying to win as many Lok Sabha seats as it can. Possibly the CBI or the government that runs the CBI is trying to stall that. We can form an alliance and go to the people. And those who want to stop [us], what do they have? They have the CBI,” Mr. Yadav told reporters here.
Mr. Yadav, who served as U.P. Chief Minister from 2012 to 2017 and held additional portfolios of mining in 2012 and 2013, also said he was ready to be questioned by the probe agency.
“If they question us, we will have to answer. We will give them an answer. But the people of the country are ready to give an answer to the BJP,” said Mr. Yadav.
“I’m happy the BJP has once against shown its true colours. First, the Congress gave us an opportunity to meet the CBI, now the BJP is giving us an opportunity,” said Mr. Yadav.
He also warned the BJP that it would also have to face the brunt of the “culture” it was leaving behind.
The CBI on January 5 said the role of the mining Ministers in U.P. between 2012 and 2016, which includes Mr. Yadav, may be probed in connection with a fresh case of alleged illegal mining of minor minerals registered on the direction of the Allahabad High Court.
The CBI registered an FIR against 2008-batch IAS official and then Hamirpur District Magistrate B. Chandralekha and 10 other individuals, besides unknown officials and persons. Among those named in the FIR are SP MLC Ramesh Kumar Mishra and Sanjay Dixit, who fought the 2017 election on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket.
Searches were carried out on Saturday on 14 premises of the accused persons in Delhi, Hamirpur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Jalaun.
The FIR alleged that public servants allowed illegal mining of minor minerals between 2012 and 2016 by the fraudulent granting of fresh or renewed leases. Officials also allegedly permitted mining by the existing lease-owners during the “obstructed period” when the National Green Tribunal had barred the activity. The leases were also allegedly issued in violation of a May 2012 order of the State government for e-tendering.
