“Hum to Rajneeti badalne aayee hain ji,”These were the words of Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal that made him synonymous with corruption-free governance. His image became that of an immandar neta, who has been garnering votes through the same.
Be it in Delhi or Punjab, Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party was hailed as the crusader against corruption. However, the AAP is marred with a gazillion corruption cases, and its leaders are facing corruption charges. The recent vigilance report adds to AAP’s troubles, ultimately unveiling Kejriwal’s ‘Delhi Model’.
Vigilance report alleges Rs 1300 cr scam
As per the Directorate of Vigilance’s report, it has been claimed that a scam of Rs 1300 crore has taken place in the construction of 2,405 classrooms for the government schools. The Vigilance Directorate has recommended “detailed investigation by a specialised agency” for the “grave irregularities and corruption” that have taken place in the construction of classrooms. The construction involves 193 school campuses.
The directorate has also demanded “fixing responsibilities” for the officials concerned from the Education Department and PWD who were involved in the “bungling” to the tune of nearly Rs 1300 crore.
The vigilance department has also underlined the involvement of a private player, Babbar and Babbar associates, who, without being appointed as consultants, inflicted changes in the construction project that added up to Rs 205.45 crore to the cost.
Also Read- Arvind Kejriwal confesses: “He wants Sisodia behind bars.”
How was the scam uncovered?
In 2015, Arvind Kejriwal ordered the construction of additional classrooms in the government schools. The PWD was ordered to take care of the construction. The PWD department conducted its own survey and projected a total requirement of 7180 classrooms, almost three times Kejriwal’s number. In this construction, several violations of rules and procedural lapses have been reported.
But the question is how such a scam was uncovered; it involves many machines working together. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had pointed out glaring irregularities in the construction of additional classrooms in Delhi government schools by the PWD.
And it had sent the report to DoV, seeking its comments on the matter. However, no heed was paid to the report until, in August, Delhi LG V K Saxena asked the chief secretary to inquire into the delay. The DoV has now submitted its recommendation on the report to the chief secretary, asking for a probe.
The BJP demands Kejriwal’s resignation
The Bharatiya Janata Party, citing the vigilance report, levelled a scathing attack on Kejriwal. At the press conference, the BJP spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, demanded that Kejriwal either dismiss his corrupt ministers or tender his resignation.
Bhatia said that “they constructed toilets in school and counted them as classrooms.” He said that Kejriwal cannot escape at this time and said that Kejriwal just cares for his black money. Bhatia said, “He is not worried about the future of the children.” He only worries about one thing: the black money that is flowing to him.
AAP walking down Congress’ lane
The recent revelation brings with it a lot of troubles for the Aam Aadmi Party before the MCD polls. However, the handsome education minister of Delhi, who has popularised much about him transforming education, is crying foul. Sisodia has alleged that the report was written in the BJP’s office and that this is a political witch hunt.
However, Sisodia’s crying of political witch hunts makes no difference to the public’s perception, seeing the current status of the Aam Aadmi Party, which seems to be walking down Congress’ lane of corruption.
One of the prominent ministers in the Kejriwal cabinet has been lodged in Tihar Jail on charges of corruption. The Delhi LG has also ordered a CBI probe in the alleged DTC bus scam, which may again name some big fish of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Be it appeasement politics or corruption, Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party seems to be following Congress’s footprints. There is a probability that they might meet the doom like Congress.
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