Cong alleges ''big scam'' behind Ganga Expressway

Jhansi, Jan 17 (UNI) Denouncing the Mayawati led-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) regime in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress today alleged ''there was something fishy behind the Rs 40,000 crore mega Ganga Expressway Project.'' ''The way Mayawati hurriedly announced the project without any survey or press meet, I can smell a big scam in form of the 1,000 km eight-lane Ganga Expressway Project,'' UP Congress President Rita Bahuguna Joshi maintained during the party coordination meet here.

''Besides, no clearance from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and water department was taken for the project...the contract had also reportedly been given to JP Industries, which is close to the UP government,'' Ms Joshi alleged.

The committee took a strong exception of why the BSP government was acquiring 30,000 acre land for its ambitious project, when it could have been completed in 16,000 acre only.

The Congress would not sit idle and raise the issue...if need arises, the party would soon launch an agitation, Ms Joshi underlined.

She demanded from the state government to bring a rehabilitation package on lines of Haryana, where the farmers were benefitted for Rs 30,000 in the form of compensation.

She also alleged that Ms Mayawati was trying to implicate her in fake cases to target the Congress.

''The case registered against me at Allahabad is result of a political conspiracy hatched to maglin my image,'' she underlined.

The Congress leader said on January 21, she would reveal how the BSP government was conspiring against her.

The third meeting of the Congress coordination committee will be held in March at Allahabad.

UNI MB ATI MS BST1817