Himanta Biswa Sarma denies BJP link in SI paper leak scam, says he has never seen Diban Deka

Guwahati: Assam Finance and Health Minister Tuesday flatly denied the involvement of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the cash-for-jobs scam in the recruitment process of Assam Police sub-inspectors. Diban Deka, one of the prime accused in the case, who is on the run, allegedly has links to the saffron party.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Guwahati, Biswa Sarma said that he has never seen Diban Deka in the corridors of the Assam BJP office in Hengerabari. "He contested elections long ago, way back in 2011. Who remembers what happened in 2011? Ever since I joined the BJP, I have not seen such a person at the BJP office," Biswa Sarma said.

Taking moral responsibility for the leak of the papers, Biswa Sarma said that the leak will help the government root out corruption in the recruitment process. "I believe this is for the best as several things have come to light, and we will conduct investigations into the same. Had this been hushed up, we would not have come to know. Thus, everything will be investigated. Government servants who got jobs through unfair means will be booted out. Moreover, candidates who have cleared the exams through unscrupulous means and are about to join will also be barred," he said.

"There will be challenges. But these brokers are not affiliated to the BJP," Biswa Sarma said. The Minister further hinted that prime accused P K Dutta rose to prominence during the former Congress regime.

Biswa Sarma further added that the SI exam shall be held within the 30th of November. "The exams will be held in such a fair manner, that you will all be proud," Biswa Sarma added.

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