Ruling MLAs accuse government of corruption in Jharkhand

Ranchi: On Wednesday, members of the ruling party in Jharkhand raised serious accusations of corruption against government officials during the question hour. The discussion was dominated by claims related to various government departments. Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav directed questions at the water resources minister, Yogendra Prasad. He asked about the actions taken against engineers implicated in a corruption case. Prasad responded, stating that a First Information Report (FIR) had been filed and a recommendation for further investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had been made. However, Yadav expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out that the engineers named by the cashier had not been charged. Yadav also highlighted financial irregularities in the purchase of e-rickshaws in Garhwa under the Swachh Bharat Mission. He demanded to see the investigation report, noting that a flying squad had been formed to look into the matter after complaints. Prasad admitted he had not seen the report and asked for more time to update the members. Amit Kumar, another MLA from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), joined the criticism, accusing officials of misleading ministers. He brought attention to a collapsed bridge that took six years to complete. He noted that despite a 2021 inquiry ordered by the chief minister, the report was still pending. Kumar mentioned that despite being debarred, the contractor received new jobs. In response to these concerns, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh assured that the government was not protecting any wrongdoers and that inquiries were ongoing. She emphasized the seriousness of the government's actions regarding the issues raised.