Cong makes fresh allegations against CM in Vyapam scam

Claims two of the accused are being shielded by Shivraj Chouhan

Main opposition Congress today came down heavily on BJP over two of the accused in Vyapam case and openly alleged that they were being protected by state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Congress demanded resignation of the chief minister on this ground and asked, "Why had the STF not registered a case against him earlier, when the chief minister ensured a fair probe? He had been protected by the chief minister himself since Kirar was Chouhan's relative," Satyadev Katare, leader of opposition in state assembly alleged at a press conference in Bhopal on Thursday. He was referring to Gulab Singh Kirar, who enjoys state minister status in Madhya Pradesh.

He further alleged, "It is the prime reason that the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should resign."

Kirar had been given a state minister's status. The BJP's state unit president Nand Kumar Chouhan told reporters that he had been suspended from the party's membership. On Wednesday, the CBI had named him and his son in one of the first five FIRs.

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Kirar was a member of the Madhya Pradesh Backward Classes and Minorities Commission and was absconding. His son, Shakti Singh Kirar, is also an accused in the scam. Another high-profile accused Sudhir Bhadauria also came drew criticism from the Congress. Katare claimed he was a close relative of Union minister of steels and mines, Narendra Singh Tomar. Issuing a clarification on Bhadauriya, Narendra Singh Tomar had recently said "none of my relatives is involved in the Vyapam scam."