BJP smells scam in Uttarakhand, demands Rawat's resignation

Bhatt demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the matter and those found guilty be punished.

Dehradun, Dec 18 Alleging a scam in acquisition of land for the National Highway 74 in Udham Singh Nagar district, BJP today demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the matter and Chief Minister Harish Rawat resign from his post taking moral responsibility.

BJP state unit chief Ajay Bhatt in a statement alleged a scam in the acquisition of land for the Jaspur-Sitarganj stretch of the highway, saying "Congress, the ruling party in the state, robbed farmers of their rights and was involved in a Rs 1000 crore fraud".

"Those embroiled in the scam were being supported by people in the Rawat government. Congressmen purchased land from farmers at dirt cheap prices. They then looted a huge amount of money in the name of change of land use," he alleged in the statement.

Bhatt demanded that a CBI probe be ordered into the matter and those found guilty be punished. He said that Rawat should take moral responsibility for this and quit as chief minister. "It is a fraud with the farmers and a huge loss to the government exchequer," the BJP chief said.

PTI