Gogoi dares Sonowal to prove allegations of bribery

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today dared Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to prove the allegations charging him with receiving kickbacks from Louis Berger Company.
Responding to news reports where Sonowal alleged that the Chief Minister had an involvement in the Louis Berger kickback episode, Gogoi said he is open to any inquiry.
"I will resign if my involvement is proved right and Sonowal should resign otherwise," Gogoi said.
At a press meet here yesterday, Gogoi, without naming anyone, had said that the then concerned minister in his cabinet is accountable for the alleged Louis Berger bribery case and announced a CID enquiry into the issue.

"The main accountability is of the minister of that time. He takes direct decision. He looks into all the issues. If all has to be done by the CM, then what is the use of a minister?" Gogoi had said when asked who is responsible for the alleged bribery case.
"I cannot go through all the details of all files. No CM or PM can do that. Concerned ministers and officials are responsible. Usually, I look whether the proper process is followed or not. If bribe is paid during the process, how would I know," the Chief Minister said.

"I knew nothing about it. BJP is saying I was involved. If anybody can prove my involvement in it, then I will leave politics," he added.

Gogoi announced a probe by the CID wing of Assam Police into the bribery allegation as recommended by the report of the Additional Chief Secretary Subash Ch Das.
Former minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who later led the dissident faction of Congress, had held the Guwahati Development Department portfolio when Louis Berger was selected as consultant for the Guwahati Water Supply project being implemented by the GMDA with funds received under the Japan International Cooperation Scheme.
While the US Department of Justice found Louis Berger guilty of paying bribes to Indian officials, including ministers for a water supply project in Goa, the only other such project the firm was implementing was in Guwahati and so a bribery allegation was made in this case too.