BJP demands CBI probe into alleged misuse of relief funds

DEHRADUN: With the Uttarakhand government appointed panel giving clean chit to officials in alleged misuse of relief funds after the 2013 natural disaster, BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the irregularities.

"We knew from day one that the probe panel headed by the Chief Secretary will give a clean chit to state government officials. So we were always in favour of a CBI probe into the loot of relief funds," Leader of opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt told reporters in Ranikhet.

Casting doubts on the "fairness" of a state government appointed probe panel, Bhatt said the suspicion of huge irregularities in use of relief funds expressed by the state Information Commissioner in his report was enough to warrant an investigation by the apex investigating agency into it. "When a constitutional body like the Information Commission suspects a scam in use of relief funds in Uttarakhand and recommends a CBI probe into it, why is the state government shying away from it," Bhatt said.

A committee set up by Uttarkhand government yesterday gave a clean chit to government officials in alleged misuse of relief funds during rescue operations following 2013 natural disaster, saying there was "no irregularities anywhere".

As per information provided by the District Magistrates of Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag and Bageshwar there were "no instances of over-spending or over-billing anywhere" as alleged, Chief Secretary N Ravishankar who headed the committee had told reporters here yesterday. He also sought to justify consumption of non vegetarian food by state government officials and men in uniform during rescue operations saying it was a routine thing in the uniformed services and calling it a picnic was not fair.