BJP asks PM to take responsibility for scams in north-east

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) Alleging a scam to the tune ofRs 58,000 crore in developmental works carried out in theNorth-East, BJP today asked the Prime Minister to takeresponsibility as he represented the region in Parliament.

BJP President Nitin Gadkari said since Prime MinisterManmohan Singh represents the North-East in Parliament, it washis "responsibility" to check the scams which were hinderingthe pace of development in the region.

Singh is a Rajya Sabha MP from Assam.

Gadkari made these remarks while releasing a report byhis party''s "fact finding team" on various "scams" takingplace in the North-East.

The report claimed that if the level of corruption inthe region was quantified, it could be to the tune ofRs 58,000 crore.

Gadkari said the report of the BJP team was based onevidence collected using the Right to Information.

He said while Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha andRajya Sabha would meet the Prime Minister in this regard, hewould personally lead a delegation to the President to submitthe report.

"Our demand is that government should conduct atime-bound probe into the loot in North-East by Congressgovernments," he said.

The BJP President said he would soon discuss thepending and upcoming CAG reports on North-East with partyleader M M Joshi who is heading Parliament''s Public AccountsCommittee.

"I would request him to take up the reports in PAC andissue necessary instructions to the government," he said.

The party also demanded setting up of special courtsto deal with the issue of corruption in the region to ensurespeedy disposal of cases.

"It is unfortunate that all the scandals and scams aretaking place in Congress-ruled states," he said.