BJP accuses AAP govt of corruption over suspension of three officials

The BJP today accused the Delhi government of "corruption" after three officials of the transport department were suspended for alleged irregularities in distribution of Letters of Intent for new auto rickshaws, prompting the AAP to hit back saying the saffron party leaders were levying such charges as they are "unemployed".

Addressing a press conference, BJP Delhi unit President Satish Upadhyay alleged: "Kejriwal government is completely involved in corruption and it has increased so much that this government is playing fraud with its own supporters the auto drivers of Delhi.

"Previously corruption was committed through the touts in transport department but now their place has been taken over by the volunteers and MLAs of AAP. Due to bungling in the department it has been reported that most of the permits have been grabbed by the auto mafia and the poor auto drivers have not been issued permits."

He said after the announcement of 10,000 auto permits by Kejriwal government on the "pretext" of pollution control in Delhi, 17,000 applications were received which led to corruption in the process of distribution.

"There are many irregularities in the distribution of permits. In place of established policy of computerised draw, first come first served basis, the volunteers of the ruling party and some corrupt officers in transport department connived to distribute permits among themselves. It has been also reported that in this process money was given and taken illegally," he alleged.

The AAP too hit back terming the charges as baseless.

"The BJP leaders are unemployed, which is why they are resorting to such charges," AAP's Delhi unit Convenor Dilip Pandey said.

Rajender Soni of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh said that according to the directions of Supreme Court the Auto Driver Badge Holders, to whom permits were issued after February 12, 2015 should not be given permits.

But in the present allotment this direction was violated and the established policy was not followed and only the volunteers related to the Ministers were favoured, Soni alleged.

Three officials of Delhi Government's transport department were suspended today for alleged irregularities in distribution of letters of intent for new auto rickshaws.

The officials -- identified as S Roy Biswas, deputy commissioner, Manish Puri, inspector, and Anil Yadav, UDC -- were placed under suspension with immediate effect following a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.