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Oppn mounts pressure on BJP over Vyapam deaths

Both cases have links to the state’s infamous Vyapam scam, based on which the Opposition on Sunday mounted pressure on the NDA government to order a “fair inquiry” into the issue.

The Congress Party demanded a CBI probe into the Vyapam scam, describing the attack on media as an attack on democracy. “It is sad that deaths of journalists are taking place, whether it is Uttar Pradesh or MP. A thorough investigation should be carried out and Congress will support it. 

Journalists and media are an important part of democracy, and attack on them is an attack on democracy. Many deaths have taken place in connection with the Vyapam scam and it remains to be seen till when the state government and Centre will wake up. There is a simple solution to this, the state government just has to write to the Centre demanding a CBI inquiry,” said Congress leader RPN Singh. His party colleague Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “Our demand is aimed at ensuring that the truth is unearthed and justice is done. It should not be swept aside under the garb of charges of politicization- as is being done by certain elements.”

Singh’s body was cremated at the <g data-gr-id="44">Nigambodh</g> Ghat in the Capital, which was attended by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Satish Upadhyay. The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday said the Supreme Court must oversee the SIT’s probe into the scam. “It is sad that one of our journalist friends has died while reporting the Vyapam scam,” said AAP spokesman Dilip Pandey adding, “Vyapam is no longer a scam, it has become a ‘narsanhar’ (massacre).” Pandey also said that both MP CM Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Governor Ram Naresh Yadav should be sacked.

<g data-gr-id="50">Meanwhile</g> the Centre on Sunday said that a “very fair inquiry” should be conducted. “Since various issues are being raised with respect to the circumstances of this death, it would be absolutely important that a very fair inquiry is held so that all doubts can be put to rest,” said Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The MP government said on Sunday that they are writing to the High <g data-gr-id="43">Court-constituted</g> SIT to probe the issue. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “ My mind is full of agony and pain. Yesterday, a sad incident took place, where the journalist, Akshay ji, suddenly fell ill and was rushed to hospital <g data-gr-id="46">but unfortunately</g> passed away. We give our condolences to his family and assure them that the state government is with them in this time of grief.”

Chouhan said that the state government had no role in the investigation in the Vyapam scam that has seen a number of deaths of accused/witnesses and those associated with it, since the High Court was monitoring the probe being carried out by the SIT constituted by it. “The High Court is monitoring the probe through the SIT constituted by it. The High Court has said the probe is carrying on fine under its monitoring and there is no need for a CBI probe. “The moment the High Court decided to monitor it, that very day the state government’s role ended in the scam. When the probe is being carried out under court monitoring, the state government cannot be above the court or the Supreme Court,” he added.

Concerned over the death of a TV journalist covering the Vyapam scam,  Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday and asked him to conduct a thorough investigation into the death. During their 10-minute telephonic conversation, Singh asked Chouhan to order a thorough investigation into the death of TV journalist Akshay Singh in Madhya Pradesh’s Jhabua district. Official sources said the Chief Minister briefed the Home Minister about the incident and the steps being taken to know the details on the circumstances leading to the death of the journalist.
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