BJP demands sacking of ministers for misleading the nation and PM

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Accusing the Group of Ministers headed by Union Water Resource Minister Saifuddin Soz for misleading Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the nation on Narmada relief and rehabilitation, the BJP today demanded sacking of the ministers concerned for conspiring to stop a developmental project and harm the interest of the people.

BJP Spokesman Arun Jaitley said the GOM consisting of Prof Soz, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chouhan, had even announced suspension of work in Sardar Sarovar Project for one year after after visiting the rehablitation site.

The oversight committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General V S Shunglu, former Jawaharlal Nehru University Vice Chancellor G K Chadha and Dr Jaiprakash Narayan, a former National Advisory Council member and a representative of an NGO had come to the conclusion there was no substantial deviation in the number of project affected families and the verification by National Sample Survey Organisation corresponded to the claim of the Action Taken Report of the state governments and the ground reality, Mr Jaitley added.

Their survey also showed that relief and rehabilitation in 37 sites were 'good' and average in 25 sites and 25 sites needed further improvement.

The Prime Minister has accepted this report and submitted before the Supreme Court over-ruling the report of the members of the Council of Ministers. He should apply the principle of accountability and initiate action against them to dispel the impression that he was not a power centre, the spokesman said.

Dr Singh should tell the nation if these ministers attempted to stall the project by spreading falsehood. This is not merely dereliction of duty but a conspiracy on the part of the ministers to stop a developmental project, he said.

Mr Jaitley said Congress leaders particularly the Chief Minister of Maharashtra treated this GOM report as gospel's truth even though it was a deliberate attempt to foil a development project.

''There is a 'drift' in the administration and the Prime Minister was helpless when a minister or an ally takes a decision,'' he added.

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