BJP should stop using underhand tactics to malign BSP; CBI free to question me: Mayawati on UP health scam

NEW DELHI: Reacting to the CBI move of probing her role in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scam, former UP chief minister Mayawati said she had nothing to hide and that the premier agency was "free to question her."

"I have pointed out then and now that all decisions were taken by the Cabinet and not the CM, but they are free to question me about the scam," Mayawati said in a press briefing. The CBI said it would reopen probe into the multi-crore scam "to unearth larger conspiracy."

Mayawati termed the development as an attempt by the Modi government to malign her party for political gains in the state.

"PM Modi's machinery should give up on such underhand tactics to gain political mileage in UP by trying to malign me and my party (BSP). This is nothing but an unfortunate attempt by the government to use the CBI to divert people's attention from its failed policies," the BSP supremo said.

The BSP leader will be asked about her role in the scam, following which the Enforcement Directorate probing money laundering charges will also examine her, a CBI source told ET. From 2007-2009, Mayawati headed the family welfare department that was allegedly involved in the multi-crore scam. In 2009, the ministry went to her aide Babu Singh Kushwaha, who was arrested by CBI in 2012. The trial against Kushwaha is underway at the Ghaziabad court, while his bail plea was recently turned down by the Supreme Court.

The multi-crore scam is being investigated by CBI since 2012 and has registered nearly 74 FIRs for alleged irregularities running into Rs 10,000 crore.

Sources said Mayawati will also be asked about her decision to bifurcate the health and family welfare ministries and appoint two chief medical officers in each district, one for health and the other for family welfare in May 2010.

The UPA government had then objected to the bifurcation of health and family welfare ministry, but it was ignored, said CBI officials, adding that they will also examine Mayawati in the light of allegations leveled by Kushwaha and then principal secretary health and family welfare Pradeep Shukla. The BSP has maintained that Mayawati removed Kushwaha as soon as she came to know about anomalies in NRHM and ordered a CBI inquiry and CAG audit.

with ET Bureau inputs