Narco-test CD: Congress steps up attack on Raman

A day after releasing the narco-test video CD of a scam accused,the Congress stepped up the demand of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singhs resignation. Party members burnt effigies of Singh and his Cabinet ministers and asked the BJP to follow Raghavjis example in Madhya Pradesh and step down.

Umesh Sinha,the accused manager of a cooperative bank,had said during his narco-analysis that Singh,his four Cabinet ministers and former DGP O P Rathore were each paid Rs 1 crore. The bank had defaulted over its payments in 2006 and bank officials were accused of embezzling Rs 54 crore during 2003-06. Sinha claimed that the money was paid to the CM and others as they were also the beneficiaries.

The Raghavji CD was made by a private person,still the minister was forced to immediately resign and later jailed. This CD is made with due legal process,following courts orders and under police observation. The offence involved is embezzlement of public money. Singh and his ministers have no moral or legal right to remain in the government. They should immediately resign, Congress programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel said.

He also pointed out that while the BJP doubted the authenticity of the CD,the state police have already admitted that it was genuine and not tampered with. The Raipur IG in his press conference clearly admitted that the CD is authentic. The BJP has no excuse, Baghel added.

Asked why the Congress was releasing this CD now,he said: It is up to the BJP to respond why did they conceal this CD so far. The test was done in 2007,still it was not produced before the court with a clear motive to shield the Chief Minister and his colleagues.

Since the case pertains to embezzlement of public funds by the CM and his senior ministers and the state police have no interest in the case,we demand CBI probe into the case, said Shailesh Nitin Trivedi,president Congress Media department. He also slammed Raipur IG GP Singh for quickly holding a press conference Saturday to defend the government,even before the government had defended itself.

In Delhi,other parties also came out against Raman Singh. CPI national secretary D Raja said the BJP employs double-standard on corruption and asked the BJP to explain its case on Singh.

The BJP maintained that the Congress is indulging in cheap politics and trying to take political advantage of the Darbha attack.

In a press conference on Sunday,BJP spokesperson Sachhidanand Upasne insisted that the CD is not authentic. He also added that there have been over 300 narco tests in the country so far,but the police did not consider it an evidence in many cases.