Sharad Yadav rains fire on Centre over scams

Expressing concern over rampant corruption in the rank and file of the Centre’s United Progressive Alliance Government, Janata Dal (United) President Sharad Yadav today pointed out that one scam after another is coming to light and this does not augur well for the country’s future.

"Since the regime came to power, it was embroiled in scams such as 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing Society. A sincere effort should be made — cutting across political affiliations — to combat corruption," he told media at the JD(U) office here.

 

The 2G spectrum is "perhaps the biggest scam in the country’s history" and the Opposition stalled Parliament’s Winter Session demanding formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and the Government finally relented before the Budget Session commenced.

 

"If the judiciary did not interfere in the 2G spectrum matter, the Centre may not have readily accepted JPC formation. The Opposition demanded constitution of JPCs in the context of other scams as well but the Congress agreed for 2G spectrum alone,"  Yadav said.

Mumbai’s Adarsh Society was reserved for war widows and veterans of the Kargil conflict he pointed out and alleged that not a single flat was allotted to these categories. The Games scam is to the tune of several "crores".

About the WikiLeaks revelation,  Yadav said that the National Democratic Alliance raised the issue on earlier occasions also and it is nothing new.

He pointed out the "pitiable" condition of Panchayati Raj and said that work on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) is progressing mindlessly.

"Crores are earmarked for the poor but the MGNREGS is not being properly implemented and corruption rules the roost," he said. Asked about saffron terrorism, the veteran socialist said that terrorism has no colour and stern action should be initiated against such elements irrespective of affiliation.

To a query,  Yadav said that the JD(U) will continue its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Uttar Pradesh elections. He declined to comment on the Madhya Pradesh Government’s performance saying that the local leadership will speak about it.