Vyapam scam: Congress accuses Chouhan of criminal delay in agreeing to CBI probe

New Delhi, Jul 8: Congress-BJP sparring over Vyapam probe issue on Wednesday intensified with the opposition party alleging "criminal delay" by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in agreeing to a CBI investigation as much evidence has already been "wiped out".

The BJP retorted by saying that the matter is before the court which will ensure that the guilty are punished and there is "no need for Congress monitoring".

"This scam is an abhorring chapter of crime, conspiracy and murder. Preliminary evidence has its own significance in investigation. Shivraj Singh Chouhan is guilty of criminal delay in handing over the probe to CBI and much evidence has already been wiped out by now," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said.

He also asked why the Chief Minister did not write to BJP-led government at the Centre for CBI probe directly and inform the High Court about it instead of requesting the court in this matter. He alleged it was "yet another game".

Buckling under all round pressure, Chouhan yesterday made a U-turn and agreed to a CBI probe. The state government has moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking its direction for institution of a CBI probe into the massive admission and recruitment scam.

Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza said that not only the Vyapam scandal but all deaths of people associated with the issue in any manner should also be probed by CBI.

"All such cases of deaths related to Vyapam, which have been described as suicide by Madhya Pradesh government, should be probed by CBI under the monitoring of Supreme Court so that truth of all such unnatural deaths, accident deaths and suicides comes out," she said.

Oza also alleged that the names of a number of RSS and BJP leaders have cropped up in Vyapam scam. "So it is a much deeper scam than what it appears to be," she said.

Escalating the attack, another party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the demand of Congress was not just for a CBI inquiry.

"Our demand consistently has been for an SIT which will supervise the CBI," he said.

Wondering what made the Chief minister change his position in 24 hours, he said he suspected that he may be listening more to the "internal contradictions within his party and to the impossibility of explaining these terrible facts".

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "silence" saying, "if the Prime Minister will not speak on a case of 30, 40, 50 deaths then I wonder what he will speak on. Will he speak on Twitter, on social media, on Red Fort, on television, on Mann ki baat?"

Reacting to the Congress attack, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaj Hussain said since the Chief Minister has already sent a request to the High Court to hand over the case to CBI, the matter is now between the court and the investigating agency.

"The country and its people have faith in court monitored investigation. There is no need for Congress monitoring it," he said sarcastically.

Hussain said that since the demand of the Opposition for a CBI probe has already been accepted, it should wait for the probe and not make noises.

PTI