Ramesh, Mayawati in duel over corruption
October 28th, 2011 - 9:56 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi/Lucknow, Oct 28 (IANS) While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Friday attacked union minister Jairam Ramesh for his having alleged irregularities in the execution of the rural jobs scheme in her state, Ramesh refuted the charge of writing a “politically motivated” letter.
“My letter to UP CM is not politically motivated. It is based on the report of the national and state level monitors on irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) in seven districts of the state,” Ramesh told a news channel.
In his letter Ramesh had Monday asked the chief minister: “Why a CBI probe should not be ordered into the implementation of the MGNREGS in the state which receives around Rs.5,000 crore annually under the scheme.”
“Asking for a CBI probe into these irregularities is not politics,” the rural development minister added.
His statement came after Mayawati Friday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying: “It only highlights his (Ramesh) lack of understanding of fiscal federalism inherent in our constitution.”
“Jairam’s letter is politically motivated,” state cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said in Lucknow releasing to the press copies of Mayawati’s letter.
“It was strange that the union minister chose to draw his conclusions on the basis of feedback limited to just seven districts in a state which has as many as 75 districts,” he added.
The Congress party also attacked Mayawati.
“It is a sad state of affairs that MGNREGS funds were used for buying toys, tents and calendars,” said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi in Delhi.
“The UP CM has overlooked development. She supports wrong decisions and boosts administrative corruption. In no other state, the bureaucracy is so demoralized as in UP,” he said.
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- Learn from Andhra on job scheme, Ramesh tells Orissa - Aug 14, 2011
- Ramesh proposes CBI probe into rural job scheme in Uttar Pradesh - Oct 25, 2011
- All support to UP on central-aided projects: Jairam Ramesh - Mar 31, 2012
- Day after joining BJP, Kushwaha's premises raided (Second Lead) - Jan 04, 2012
- Jharkhand spent only 38 percent of job scheme funds - Dec 14, 2011
- All rural development schemes to be audited: Ramesh - Dec 13, 2011
- Special MGNREGS courts planned: Ramesh - Nov 09, 2011
- PM concerned over delayed NREGA wages, Sonia suggests reforms (second lead) - Feb 02, 2012
- Tripura to ask CBI to probe Aadhaar fund utilisation - Mar 01, 2012
- Mayawati releases 'white paper' refuting corruption charges - Dec 16, 2011
- Political war erupts as CBI raids Kushwaha's premises (Roundup) - Jan 04, 2012
- Rural job workers to get cash in Maoist-hit areas: Ramesh - Dec 03, 2011
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