Delhi government, Oppn spar over water tanker scam in Assembly session

Water Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday lashed out at BJP and Delhi Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), claiming that both were trying set aside the role of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the alleged water tanker scam. Mishra was responding to the question asked by LoP Vijender Gupta the during question hour of the Assembly.

Gupta queried the minister that why the agreement with the firm has not been canceled yet after the fact finding committee has figured out corruption in it. On which Mishra replied that the fact finding committee has developed the report after going through the documents related to the contract but any conformation can only be made after interrogation of accused would be done.

Replying to the BJP leader’s question, Mishra admitted that there was irregularity in the purchase of water tanker during the regime of Congress.

“I had given him (Gupta) the report of fact finding committee around 70 days ago in this Assembly. But again, he is asking the same question after 70 days, which means he had not read the report. I have given the same report to the Prime Minister, LG and even ACB.

“They don’t have courage to summon Sheila Dikshit but they summoned me, despite the fact, that I am the complainant in the case,” he said in the House.

Gupta, an MLA from Rohini, demanded termination of contract of the company which was involved in the alleged irregularities.

“Government has diluted the report of the committee. The report clearly confirms corruption in purchase, but it has not black listed the company so far,” he said.

Mishra said the committee did not have the power to summon Dikshit or any official and that is why the ACB was asked to probe the matter.

Speaker Ram Niwas Goel also said that when ACB can conduct raid at the office of Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) then why it can’t summon Delhi Jal Board officials and former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.