Congress lashes out at Modi over tainted Gujarat minister

New Delhi, June 29: The

on Friday launched a scathing attack on

over the continuance of

state water resources minister Babubhai Bokhariya following his conviction by a sessions court in a case of illegal mining.

The party also castigated the BJP for seeking "removal of all non-BJP ministers and not merely those belonging to Congress" whenever there is a charge against somebody but "it is allowing convicted Bokharia to remain in Cabinet".

The remarks were significant as they reflected an attempt by Congress to isolate the BJP from all other parties.

DMK ministers including A Raja had to quit UPA II amid corruption controversies including 2G, while the NDA had also targeted NCP in past over some reports.

Alleging that this reflects the "double speak" of BJP on the issue of corruption, Congress spokesperson Bhakta Charan Das wondered: "Is Modi also a beneficiary? Why convicted Bokharia was not removed? This raises a big question mark."

"This shows BJP is not a party with a difference rather it is a party with a different yardstick," Das told reporters at the AICC briefing on a day a delegation of Gujarat Congress submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee on the issue of Bokharia's continuance in the ministry there.

Gujarat PCC chief Arjun Modhwadia, CLP leader Shankersinh Vaghela and former CLP leader Shaktisinh Gohil who were part of the delegation, were also unsparing in their criticism.

"The most corrupt government in the country is running in Guajrat," Modhwadia said.

Vaghela alleged that 30 to 35 sitting MLAs of BJP are facing criminal charges in the state.

Gohil said, "Modi and moral can never travel together. He has been going around the country beating the trumpet of his so-called development model. But if it's so good and clean then why does he has to carry 32 MLAs of serious criminal background."

PTI