The Congress on Saturday demanded the resignation of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh in the alleged that the rice scam, which is currently under probe by the State’s Anti-Corruption Branch. The Opposition party said the scam was worth Rs. 36,000 crore with kickbacks to the tune of Rs. 300 crore every month over the last 11 years.
Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, flanked by the State Congress unit leaders, demanded that a Special Investigation Team, monitored by the Supreme Court, probe the scam. “For a fair probe, the Chief Minister must resign,” he said. Mr. Maken alleged that the Chief Minister and his close relatives as well as staff were recipients of kickbacks in the scam that was unearthed in the Nagrik Apoorti Nigam that handles both procurement and distribution for the PDS.
So far, 13 persons have been arrested. A charge sheet was presented in the local court in Raipur on June 6.
The Congress also dragged the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh into the alleged list of beneficiaries, saying Rs. 16 crore each were paid at the headquarters of the two organisations on November 2, 2014.
