Powerful backers

The only one perhaps to complete four years in Raj Bhawan, Ram Naresh Yadav has mysteriously survived in MP, given that all others appointed by UPA-2 have been replaced. The Madhya Pradesh governor is also an accused in the mega scam making headlines for some time now. His son Shailesh, another accused in the scam is among those who have died under mysterious circumstances.

It has been revealed that the Raj Bhawan staff was involved and manipulated admissions and recruitment tests conducted by PEB. The Vyapam scam reportedly has an established trail to the Raj Bhawan.The governor’s former OSD Dhanraj Yadav is among those arrested by the Special Task Force (SIT). In February 2015, the investigating agency filed an FIR against Yadav under various sections of the IPC. He was accused of conspiracy and forgery under the Information Technology Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The SIT report against Yadav said he had recommended five names for recruitment as forest guards.The Congress has demanded action against Yadav. 

In 2014, when Yadav’s name first appeared in connection with the scam, the MP unit of the Congress had asked him to step down.The questions to be asked are: What is so compelling about Yadav? Why is Modi not acting against him? Why is he spared in spite of accusations, allegations, and an FIR when several other Governors have been replaced just because they were appointed by the Congress? Why is the BJP keen on letting Yadav continue when even the Congress wants him replaced? These are pertinent questions and must be answered.As the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Yadav must have been privy to a lot of information; he may have had access to important files, documents, deliberation and decisions. Perhaps Yadav knows a lot and letting the SIT grill him could lead to new revelations and insights into the scam that is bigger than it seems. Now the questions remain.