Congress workers burn PM Modi's effigy, demands probe in GSPC scam

Vadodara: Citing a CAG report which rapped GSPC for mismanagement, Congress workers here today burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they demanded a probe into the alleged scam in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation.

A large number of Congress workers staged a dharna before the Collector's office, while five of them, including city unit vice president of youth Congress Nikesh Thakur, were arrested for burning the PM's effigy, police said.

"Our party has demanded a joint parliamentary committee or a special investigation team monitored by the Supreme Court to probe the scam at GSPC," city Congress chief Prashant Patel said.

Last month, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report had criticised the state-run GSPC for mismanagement and wastage of money, especially with regard to exploration of gas and oil in the Krishna-Godavari basin.

Congress leader and party spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil alleged that a private firm was favoured unduly by the GSPC.

"Despite six CAG reports in the past against the GSPC, no action was taken against the officials who are responsible for the corruption. GSPC was making profits when Congress was in power," Gohil claimed in a statement.