Dumpers purchase: Cong demands MP CM's resignation

Bhopal, Nov 14 (UNI) The Congress' Madhya Pradesh unit today demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan following a local special court directing the Lokayukt Special Police Establishment to initiate an inquiry into ''purchase'' of dumpers in the name of Mr Chouhan's wife Sadhana Singh.

Describing the court directive as a victory of justice, Congress General Secretary and former Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jamuna Devi said at a press conference that the Chief Minister should quit on moral grounds.

''If the Chief Minister does not put in his papers then the Congress will gherao him and his ministerial colleagues at various places in the state,'' Mr Singh warned.

The leader duo alleged that this was the first instance in the country's parliamentary history when a court directed the police to submit a corruption-linked report against a Chief Minister and his wife.

''I expect the Bharatiya Janata Party to forthwith remove Mr Chouhan as per its standards of morality and virtue just as his predecessor Uma Bharti was removed in the context of the Hubli rioting case. Mr Chouhan is habituated to speaking of morality, virtue and law. He should resign so that the probe is unaffected,'' Mr Singh said According to information available with him, ''thirty seven -- not just four -- dumpers'' were purchased in the names of the chief minister and his family.

''I expect the police to fulfill its constitutional duties.

According to the Indian Penal Code's Section 156(3), the Establishment should forthwith register a case. Ms Devi has forcefully highlighted several cases of corruption and thereby played the role of an effective opposition,'' the Congress leader added.

Welcoming the court directive, Ms Devi pointed out that Mr Chouhan should step down until proven innocent.

''At the time of the Budhni assembly bypoll, Mr Chouhan declared being in possession of Rs 40,000, Ms Sadhana -- Rs 45,000 and children Rs 15,000 each. How were dumpers worth crores purchased and a bank loan made available?'' she said.

UNI