Congress for separate CBI probes into Vyapam scam, deaths

New Delhi, July 8: A day after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan recommended a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam, the Congress on Wednesday demanded separate investigations into the racket and the deaths connected to it. “Both investigations should be done by the CBI and both should be monitored by the Supreme Court,” Congress leader R.P.N. Singh told media persons here. “Vyapam is bigger than the Harya recruitment scam and the Bihar fodder scam,” Singh said adding that the Supreme Court-monitored probe should also be time-bound.

Claiming that independent India had not seen such a big scam earlier, he said the country still was to hear from Prime Minister rendra Modi on the matter.

“The PM’s silence is deafening,” he added. The Congress leader said Chouhan had taken a “convoluted stance” on the scam that more than amply demonstrated his bad intent. “He (Chouhan) is reported to have written to the Madhya Pradesh high court, saying he has full faith in the Special Task Force and its functioning till now. On the other hand, he asks for CBI investigation into the Vyapam scam.

This mutually contradictory communication demonstrates the chief minister’s real intention,” R.P.N. Singh said.

It was allegedly under Chouhan’s stewardship as minister of medical education that the scam occured. Reiterating the Congress demand for Chouhan’s resigtion, Singh said: “We believe that any further investigation into the Vyapam scam will require that the chief minister’s role as a kingpin is probed thoroughly with a fine-tooth comb.” Questioned as to whether the party was also demanding the resigtion of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram resh Yadav, Singh said the BJP-led government at the centre had shown undue haste in dismissing all governors appointed by the earlier UPA regime, but not removed Yadav. “This in itself is evident of his complicity,” he said. In a dramatic U-turn, Chouhan had on Tuesday announced that he had recommended a CBI investigation into the Vyapam recruitment scam. Tuesday’s announcement followed more deaths allegedly linked to the scandal in one way or the other.

Over 40 people allegedly associated with the admission and recruitment scam in Vyapam - the Madhya Pradesh Vyavsayik Pariksha Mandal or Professiol Examition Board - have died since 2013 under mysterious circumstances or committed suicide.

The Supreme Court will on July 9 hear pleas, including one filed by Congress leader Digvijay Singh, for a CBI probe monitored by the apex court.  (IANS)