Chaliha wants CBI probe into APSC issues

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 18: In tune with KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi, former Congress MP Kirip Chaliha today said he supports the farmer leader's demand for a thorough inquiry into the allegations against the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
Talking to newsmen in Guwahati today, Chaliha said: "I'm convinced that there has been large-scale corruption in the APSC. I did inform Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of this two/three years back."
"I do teach students under some NGOs. Whenever I ask students of their aim, none of them say about facing the ACS. And the ground they show for shying away from ACS is that they don't have money to pay the APSC. A candidate who failed to qualify the APSC examition brought laurels to the State by facing the UPSC. There are many such examples which we can't simply term as accidents. Since the ACS is the lifeline of the State administration, the government should go for a thorough inquiry into the allegations against the APSC," Chaliha said, and added: "Since Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is on a long political sojourn in the State, he should set an example by conducting a thorough inquiry into the APSC, including a CBI inquiry."
Chaliha further said: "When I informed the Chief Minister of the anomalies in the APSC, he told me that nobody inform him of such matters. The matter is that to inform the Chief Minister of such matters, a candidate should have material evidence with him or her. How come common people have such evidence. Finding proof is the duty of the police. Taking all these into account, the Chief Minister should ensure a thorough inquiry into the allegations against the APSC."
On interl conflicts in the Congress, the former MP said: "I did air my views before the central leadership that entrusted me to unite both the factions. In order to translate the order of the party high command into reality I had to talk to the dissident group for unity, but the other faction branded me as an adviser of the dissidents. The fact remains that the dissidents never asked me anything before going to the Governor House. Since I was deputed by the Central leadership of the party, I made the arrangement for the recent meeting of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Anjan Dutta and former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma with Rahul Gandhi. Now I'm free from the responsibility given by the central leadership of the party on me."
When asked if former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will join the AGP, Chaliha said: "I don't know. Nobody has informed me of this. It's however true that efforts are on to float a regiol political formation. It's also true that nobody will join the AGP for power."