'Will ask UP CM to order CBI probe in MNREGA graft'

Press Trust of India | 31-Mar 04:32 AM

Allahabad: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh on Friday said he will ask Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to order a CBI inquiry into irregularities in the implementation of MNREGA in the state during Mayawati rule.

"Large-scale irregularities in the implementation of MNREGA had come to our notice in districts like Balrampur, Mahoba and Sonebhadra a few years ago."

"I wrote to the then Chief Minister Mayawati many times requesting her to get the matter investigated by CBI but it to no avail. I will take up the matter again when I meet Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow tomorrow", Ramesh said.

He said "UP now has a young Chief Minister who has assumed power with a huge mandate in his favour.

"I hope he would give his assent to a CBI inquiry which would help him send a strong message that graft will not be tolerated during his regime and funds allocated for welfare schemes will not be squandered on purchase of fancy cars for political leaders".

The Union Minister said though ruling Samajwadi Party in UP was a "political rival" of Congress, "the state will face no dearth of central assistance with regard to its development needs".

"Tomorrow, when I meet Yadav in the state capital, I would discuss in detail the deficiencies that plague the implementation of schemes like MNREGA and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana which, if eradicated, would ensure rapid progress of UP", Ramesh said.

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