CM claims he will emerge clean in dumper issue

Bhopal, Nov 29: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that he would emerge unscathed in the Lokayukt investigation over the dumper issue. On completion of two years in office, he told that there was no illegality in the case and the opposition was unnecessarily trying to make a mountain out of a molehill sans basis. ''Complete transparency has been observed in the case in keeping with the law,'' he said while adding, ''it will certainly boomerang on the (main opposition) Congress.'' Asked about the pressure being built up by the opposition to force him to quit office over the issue, he said, ''I am not a culprit. I have done nothing wrong. Why should I oblige them (the opposition)?

''I have full faith in the judicial system and am confident I will emerge unscathed, exposing the opposition conspiracy to destabilise my government through cheap political gimmicks. Instead of weakening me, this will provide me added vigour to accelerate the process of the state's development,'' Chouhan claimed. He regretted that the opposition had shown ''scant respect for democratic institutions such as the Vidhan Sabha, Lokayukt and court. ''Since the matter is before the Lokayukt, they should have demonstrated respect for it and exercised patience for its verdict rather than becoming restless, undermining the dignity of the house by resorting to unruly behaviour within and outside the house, hampering smooth functioning and not allowing debate on key issues of public importance.

''I have also offered to debate the matter on any platform. It was listed for discussion even in the Assembly through an opposition-sponsored adjournment motion but they (opposition members) tried to wriggle out, knowing they will fail to substantiate their allegations,'' he added. ''The action of the Congress is a pointer towards its political bankruptcy,'' Mr Chouhan said, adding, ‘‘its anti-democratic postures cannot withstand the winds of development sweeping over the state through various state government initiatives.'' He said that his government would maintain political stability and would not allow anyone to halt the process of development of the state. The Chief Minister said that the people were matured enough to see through the ''nefarious designs'' of the Congress which, he said, would not be successful in converting the dumper issue into one of corruption at the assembly polls scheduled next year.

The Lokayukt Special Police Establishment had registered a first information report (FIR) against Mr Chouhan, his wife Sadhana Singh and others for alleged corruption in purchase of four dumpers that were later hired out to the Rewa-based J P Cement company. The FIR was registered following the directive of a local special court for an inquiry. Itarsi-resident Congress leader Ramesh K Sahu had lodged a complaint in this regard. Alleging that the opposition now stood exposed in the public eye, the Chief Minister added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh -- himself a Congress leader -- and Union ministers had lavished praise on Madhya Pradesh's rapid all-round development. ''The opposition is attempting to divert my attention from the development issue. The public will not fall into this trap set by the opposition,'' he added.