Multi-crore scam rocks Dikshit government
NEW DELHI: Congress high command on Saturday swung into damage control mode in the wake of CBI raids on a controversial canteen contractor that led to charges and counter charges in the ruling party about a ploy to topple Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Following the raids on multi-crore scam mastermind Ashok Malhotra, a match has erupted between Congress and BJP, which is being targeted by the ruling party over the documents allegedly seized from him relating to 5,500 plots for slum dwellers.
“There is no conspiracy to topple the government. The issue is being diverted from land scam to the issuance of fancy numbers for cars by the government,” AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot told reporters.
Union Minister of state Ajay Maken, MP Jagdish Tytler, Delhi ministers Arvinder Singh Lovely, Haroon Yusuf, AK Walia and DPCC chief RB Sharma were present at the meeting.
Dikshit speaking separately, expressed surprise over reports about attempts to topple the government. “I am surprised. I am not aware,” Dikshit told media when asked to comment over the alleged “conspiracy” being hatched against her.
Malhotra owns several plots in Delhi and a fleet of 17 luxury cars. Each had a VIP number plate, which can only be acquired if recommended by influential politicians or bureaucrats.
Sources said that these cars were reportedly for MLAs of the anti-Dikshit faction in the Delhi Congress, who have been trying to regroup, after the recent civic polls debacle. According to sources Malhotra used to raise funds for prominent politicians including a sitting Delhi MP and several MLAs. But suddenly no politician seems to know him.
“I have never even met the man,” said Haroon Yusuf, transport minister, Delhi. But it seems impossible for a man who now runs a canteen at Delhi Assembly to have amassed so much wealth on his own.
This crackdown has become an embarrassment for the ruling Congress in Delhi and has revived an open war between Dikshit and her detractors.
The central leadership has stepped in to crack the whip and asked Delhi leaders to stop mudslinging in public.
