The Assam unit of Bharatiya Janata Party has formally dismissed allegation of corruption against ministers in the Sarbananda Sonowal government, citing lack of evidence.
Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had asked Ram Prasad Sharma, BJP MP from Tezpur to substantiate his allegations of corruptions by ministers. (PTI)
At an emergency meeting of the unit’s office bearers Saturday night, the party concluded that the accusations labeled by party MP Ram Prasad Sharma, while talking to a local TV channel, had no basis.
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Sharma, a member of Lok Sabha from Tezpur, had told the channel on Wednesday that several ministers in the 16-month-old BJP-led coalition government in Assam take bribes for doling out contracts.
The allegations, particularly against minister for irrigation and handloom Ranjit Dutta, whom Sharma accused of taking 10% commission for every contract, had rattled the BJP which had swept to power on the promise of rooting out corruption.
Read more: Bribery charges by BJP MP rattle Assam govt, irrigation minister under scanner
“Sharma, who had made the comments while talking informally to a TV channel, failed to provide any proof of the allegations. Therefore, we dismiss the charge,” BJP state unit president Ranjit Das said after the meeting.
The meeting also warned Sharma not to make any such statements either in public, to media or at party platforms, without evidence. It was also decided to report the matter to the BJP national president Amit Shah.
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“The chief minister had assured of action if Sharma had given a written complaint with proof to substantiate the allegations against ministers. But he failed to do so,” said Das.
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“The chief minister had assured of action if Sharma had given a written complaint with proof to substantiate the allegations against ministers. But he failed to do so,” said Das.
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Sharma had switched off his phones and was not available for comment.
A lawyer-turned-politician, Sharma had hit the headlines in the past for his claims of being able to solve the problem of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir within six months, if he is given the responsibility.
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