Prove involvement in Louis Berger scam, I'll quit: Tarun Gogoi dares BJP

Guwahati, Aug 18: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday dared the BJP to prove his involvement in the Louis Berger bribery case, saying he will quit politics if his involvement in it was proved.

Gogoi said this while replying to the allegation by the BJP that the chief minister was also involved in the bribery case as all the files go to him for approval.

"All the files come to me and I sign those as chief minister. However, it is the responsibility of the minister of the concerned departments and not the chief minister. The accountability lies with the officers of the concerned department and the minister," he said.

"If I have to look into every detail before signing those, what is the use of keeping a minister for the concerned department?" Gogoi asked.

Asked about why the government was not going for a CBI probe, he said the BJP-led government in Goa has not gone for a CBI probe yet.

"If the BJP government in Goa goes for a CBI probe over the Louis Berger bribery allegation, I'll also do it," he said.

He said Assam's additional chief secretary had carried out a probe and said the case should be thoroughly probed.

"Accordingly, our government has asked the CID to probe the allegation and I am confident of the CID," he said.

Former Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was holding the Guwahati Development Department portfolio when Louis Berger was selected as consultant for the Guwahati Water Supply project, being implemented by the GMDA with funds received under the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The scam came to the fore after the US Department of Justice found Louis Berger guilty of paying bribes to Indian officials, including ministers, for water supply projects in Goa and Guwahati.

IANS