The Congress in Uttar Pradesh has demanded the dismissal of BSP minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui who was severely indicted by the Lokayukta five days ago.
A delegation of senior Congress leaders met UP governor B.L. Joshi on Monday and submitted a memorandum seeking action against the minister.
Later talking to reporters, senior congress leader Digvijay Singh said that the Lokayukta had found that charges of corruption against Mr Siddiqui were prima facie substantial and had recommended an inquiry by the CBI or Enforcement Directorate to unearth his wealth and properties that were also located abroad. He said cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act should be registered against the minister.
“Ms Mayawati has dropped 21 ministers on the recommendation of the Lokayukta and their departments have mostly been given to Naseemuddin Siddiqui. Now that this powerful minister has been indicted too, what is stopping her from taking action against him? This shows that the BSP has double standards while dealing with corruption — just like the BJP which did not pursue any action against Bangaru Laxman and Jaya Jaitley whose corruption was caught in sting operations,” he said.
Mr Singh said that if the Congress was voted to power, action would be taken against all ministers, officials and traders found to be guilty of corruption in this regime.
The Congress leader pointed out that six unnatural deaths had taken place as a result of the NRHM scam in the state and this indicated that some influential persons were also involved in embezzlement of funds.
Replying to a question, Mr Singh said that the statement made by state SP president Akhilesh Yadav that his party would give 18 per cent reservation to Muslims could be expected from Mulayam Singh Yadav but not from his son who was highly educated. “I am sure that Akhilesh knows about the 50 per ceiling on reservation by the Supreme Court and he also knows that the Congress, as well as the Samajwadi Party, does not have the majority in parliament to bring a constitutional amendment in this regard,” he said.