Lucknow: Accusing the Uttar Pradesh government
of misusing funds of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), AICC general secretary Digvijay
Singh today alleged that toys and calendars were purchased
with the money released for various projects.
"There are complaints that the government utilised MNREGS
funds to purchase toys and almirahs and to get calendars
printed. It has made officers and employees a medium of
corruption," Digvijay told reporters here.
He demanded that money misused should be realised from
the officers and workers concerned. "At some places, officers
and employees were suspended, but they were reinstated. We
demand that their services should be terminated," he said.
He also slammed Chief Minister Mayawati for not visiting
Mangarh in Pratapgarh district, where 63 people were killed in
a stampede at Kripaluji Maharaj Ashram.
"I was surprised by the government's contention that it
doesn't have few lakh of rupees to give compensation to kin of
people killed in the incident," he said.
"I have never seen such an insensitive approach. The
state government can spent several crores of rupees on
preparation for BSP rally scheduled for March 15, but it
doesn't have any money for the poor, specially women and
children," he added.
Demanding a judicial probe into the recent communal
clashes in Bareilly, the Congress leader alleged that
politically motivated action was being taken against a
particular community.
"While a cleric had been arrested, no action had been
taken against workers of BJP and RSS, who threw stones on a
religious procession and damaged mosques," he alleged.
"A judicial inquiry should be ordered into the incident
and responsibility of the officers concerned should be fixed,"
he demanded.
A few people were injured in communal clashes early this
month following changes in the route of the Barawafat
procession.
On the 125 years of party's foundation, he said it would
organise yatras and rallies in the state.
On April 14, Rahul Gandhi would address a meeting in
Ahmbedkarnagar district. "On November 10, when these yatras
would conclude a meeting would be organised in Allahabad,
where the first meeting of the Congress Working Committee was
held in 1910 on the same date," Digvijay said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 09, 2010, 19:23