No option other than letters to prod Maya: Ramesh

Writing letters is the only option left to him to persuade Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati to order a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in implementation of MGNREGA in the state rural development minister Jairam Ramesh said on Friday.

Ramesh, who wrote letters to Uttar Pradesh government, including Mayawati, favouring a CBI inquiry into the matter, said the Centre could not conduct a CBI probe into the matter without the concurrence of the state government.

The CBI probe could be done only with the concurrence of the state govenrment, he said.

"She has not concurred so far. She has opposed as of now. I have made a request to her. We cannot force a CBI inquiry. That is very clear. If I don’t get the concurrence of the UP government, we will not have the CBI inquiry," the minister told reporters.

He said it was the State Quality Monitor (SQM) appointed by Mayawati government which found irregularities in implementation of MGNREGA in some districts.

Ramesh said the Centre has used "squeezing funds option" in Orissa and Jharkhand for not taking action against officials who embezzled money meant for MGNREGA but maintained such an extreme steps was not a "very happy solution."

Asked what are the other options to persuade the state government to order a CBI probe, he said "keep writing letters".