MP Congress seeks Shivraj Singh Chauhan's resignation

NEW DELHI: Accusing Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan of supporting corruption, Congress today demanded his resignation and sacking of two ministers whose names are listed in mining barons' diaries, which contained details of alleged bribes being paid to them.

"The Chief Minister has no right to remain in office any more...He should resign immediately on moral grounds. He should also immediately sack Mineral Resources minister Rajendra Shukla and Technical education and Public Relations minister Laxmikant Sharma," Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh assembly Ajay Singh told reporters here.

He said it was sad that Chauhan was silent on acting against the two ministers.

During a raid on two influential Bhopal-based businessmen Dilip Suryavanshi and Sudhir Sharma, the income tax department had recovered diaries which had entries claiming that the two ministers had been paid bribes. The case is now being probed by CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

Singh said complaints against the two ministers are pending before the state Lokayukta but the Chief Minister has not accorded sanction against the two yet.

The Congress leader alleged Chauhan has remained a mute spectator to the corruption in his government and this indicated his involvement in the corrupt practices.

He also hit out at former BJP president Nitin Gadkari for his alleged involvement in the award of contracts for various projects in Madhya Pradesh.

Singh also slammed Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj for contesting from constituencies like Bellary in Karnataka and Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, where illegal mining is rampant.

Madhya Pradesh is due for polls later this year and the state is witnessing a slug fest between the ruling BJP and the Congress for wresting power in the state.