Cong seeks time bound probe in cash-for-job scam in Haryana

Congress today sought a time-bound probe by two sitting judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court into the alleged cash-for-job scam and said the claims of transparency by Khattar government "stood exposed".

Alleging that there was an attempt to "cover up" the "biggest ever" scam in the 51-year history of Haryana, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said the responsibility for the wrongdoing lies at the doorstep of Chief Minister M L Khattar, and demanded the sacking of the chairman and members of Haryana Staff Selection Commission.

The flying squad of Haryana chief minister yesterday unearthed an alleged cash-for-job racket involving employees of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and other departments and "brokers".

They would take money from aspirants for selection in government jobs, an official spokesman had said.

Attacking the BJP government in the state, Surjewala told reporters that "connivance of the highest level is at least prime facie apparent" in the racket.

Surjewala, who is in-charge, Communications, All India Congress Committee, accused the Khattar government of "selling government jobs".

"The cash for job scam took place under the patronage of Khattar government, which keeps making tall claims of transparency and merit in recruitment," he alleged.

"By catching a few minions and a few brokers, Khattar government cannot wash its hands of this sin of compromising the future of Haryana's youth.

"If anybody is accountable, if any claim of transparency and accountability and secrecy stands exposed today, it is of Manohar Lal Khattar. The responsibility lies at his door step and with the chairman and members of the commission," he claimed.

He asked Khattar that "when police was in the know of the scam for the last one year, why did he grant extension to staff selection commission chairman and its members", and demanded that the chairman and members should also be booked for the scam.

Surjewala also questioned why Khattar "did not stop this scam and got the culprits arrested during last one year".

The Congress demanded that an independent probe into the scam be entrusted to two sitting judges of Punjab and Haryana High court to be nominated by the Chief Justice of the high court.

"Overwhelming facts demonstrate that there is far more than meets the eye.... There is a need for inquiry because there is a scam and now question is are those five or six minion (who have been arrested) guilty or was Chief Minister Khattar sleeping?