Congress creates ruckus in Assembly, CBI probe into PMGSY ‘anomalies’ demanded

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The Opposition Congress in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday create furore in the Assembly demanding CBI probe into gross anomalies in the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme, forcing Speaker Tenzing Norbu Thongdok to adjourn the House for some time after the Question Hour.

As soon as the Question Hour began, Opposition leader Takam Pario asked the government to hand over the case to CBI saying that when the State Government has been claiming to reduce corruption in the State, how such anomalies occurred in the PMGSY scheme?

The Congress has alleged that State RWD Minister Bamang Felix in connivance with Chief Minister Pema Khandu has been forcing officers to collect 6 per cent from contractors of new PMGSY projects irrespective of the amount and 2 per cent at second stage of those projects in a bid to mobilize funds for the ensuring 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The party also claimed that the collected fund run into Rs 166.225 crore (Rs 132.87 crore of 6 per cent and Rs 33.35 crore of 2 per cent), that too collected before floating tenders of those projects.

Pario also criticised the government for politicising the PRC issue and for not bringing the Freedom to Religious Bill as promised to safeguard the religious minority in the State.

When the Speaker asked Pario to raise the issue during Zero Hour, the Congress leader started shouting slogans in the well of the House holding placards. However, the Question Hour continued despite protest by Pario, which prompted the Speaker to ask the marshal to take Pario to his seat.

Disruption continued till the end of the Question Hour with Pario trying to disrupt the proceedings forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for ten minutes.

Later talking to reporters, Pario while producing documentary evidences, alleged that the RWD minister has directed the officers to collect 6 per cent from sanctioned PMGSY projects in the first phase (formation cutting) and 2 per cent from the second phase (Black topping).

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