MP govt charges Cong with playing politics over deceased

Facing the heat over the Vyapam scam after a series of mysterious deaths, the BJP Government in Madhya Pradesh today accused the Congress of "playing politics over the deceased" and asserted that Jabalpur Medical College Dean Arun Sharma's death was not related to the case.

Hitting out at the Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government, the Congress said Chouhan was the kingpin of the Vyapam "mahaghotala" (mega scam) and had become "maut ka saudagar" (merchant of death).

Putting a brave front in the face of the Congress onslaught here and at Delhi, Government spokesman and Health Minister Narottam Mishra said the opposition party was playing politics over the deceased and claimed that the deaths of Dr Arun Sharma and of a woman trainee sub-inspector this morning were not related to Vyapam.

"Dr Sharma was a very good man. His death has nothing to do with the Vyapam scam," Mishra told reporters.

"It is very unfortunate that Congress is playing politics over bodies. They (Congress) are trying to connect deaths to Vyapam scam. The state government stands with bereaved families in the hour of their grief," he said.

Targeting the Chief Minister, Congress state chief Arun Yadav said, "Chouhan was the kingpin of the Vyapam mahaghotala (major scam)" and sought his resignation.

He said the dumper scam (in which the CM and his wife had been accused of buying lorries by fraudulent means but were absolved by court) was "Chouhan's primary education and now with Vyapam scam he has done his PhD."

"He (Chouhan) made his journey from dumper to bumper", the Congress leader said, referring to Vyapam scam in which students were admitted to medical course and youths got jobs allegedly by paying hefty sums as bribes to a nexus of politicians and officials of MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), knwon as Vyapam in local parlance.

Demanding a probe into investigation of the SIT-STF investigation of the scam, he said, "Now, the way these two agencies are investigating the scam needs to be probed as well."

Pressing for probe by Central agency into the scam, he said, "If he (Chouhan) and his family members are not involved in the Mahaghotala, why is he skirting a CBI probe."

He said that Congress will hold a state bandh soon to press its demand.