Congress alleges mining scam under Raje's watch in Rajasthan

Sachin Pilot has said that not resorting to an auction process has led to a loss of Rs 45,000 cr

The Congress has accused the Vasundhara Raje government in Rajasthan of corruption over mine allocations.

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Sachin Pilot, accused the state government of allocating 653 mines without auctions, leading to a loss of Rs 45,000 crore to the state. The scam came to light after the arrest of Principal Secretary (Mines) Ashok Singhvi.

“This is the biggest scam in Rajasthan. We demand a CBI probe monitored by the Supreme Court. We also demand that the chief minister immediately step down as an independent probe is not possible till she holds office,” Pilot said in an address to the media here.  “We demand the mining licences be cancelled and auctioned,” he added.

“The prime minister talks about ‘Make In India’, but his government indulges in ‘Take in India’,”  said Congress communication chief Randeep Surjewala. He added the mines were spread over 20 districts of Rajasthan with a mineral value of up to Rs 200,000 crore.

The Mines and Minerals Act, 1957, was recently amended to ensure compulsory auction of mines. "No mines should be given away without auction. No letter of intent for a prospective licence or mining lease can be given without the Centre’s consent,” Surjewala pointed out.

The Congress intends to take this up in the state Assembly and with voters in Rajasthan.