Rahul Gandhi terms rejection of Adarsh report as 'wrong'

If accepted, former CM Ashok Chavan is staring at a jail term

In a move to regain lost political ground after the Congress drubbing in the recent assembly elections, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi announced that all Congress ruled states would take proactive steps to get price rise and corruption under control. He also said that his ‘personal’ view was that the Maharashtra cabinet should accept the report of the enquiry committee in the Adarsh scam. “There is no question of protecting anyone (in the Adarsh scam)” he said after a meeting of Congress Chief Ministers.

As part of price control measures, after January 15, farmers in Congresss ruled states will no longer need a license to sell fruit and vegetables: they can sell either at farmgate or anywhere without bringing produce to the Agriculture Price Marketing Committee (APMCs) where they currently have to pay a tax to sell it.

Strict action will be taken against those found profiteering, especially chronic offenders; and the public Distribution system in states ruled by the Congress will be overhauled with women’s Self Help Groups and cooperative bodies being encouraged to sell fruit vegetables and eggs at low prices.

Congress ruled states will pass the Lokayukta Act in line with the central law before 28 February, the meeting decided. But the obvious contradiction was pointed out to him: the fact that despite a court of enquiry having virtually established charges of ‘quid pro quo’ (a charge that is classified as corruption under the Criminal Procedure Code and is punishable by a jail term) against several bureaucrats and former Congress Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the Maharashtra cabinet had rejected the report without stating the grounds of rejection. Gandhi said in his personal opinion the report should have been accepted. When asked what he was going to do about Gandhi’s personal view, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said he would convey that view to his colleagues.

Maharashtra has a coalition Congress Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government and it was the cabinet’s unanimous decision to reject the Adrash scam investigation report. The report also names several persons close to the opposition Bharatiya Janata party leadership.

Gandhi said what the Congress chief ministers were trying to do is instil systems so that corruption could be ended. “But only one party talks about the framework in which decisions should be taken. We have been saying: ‘let’s have session of the House and create a framework’. But when we say it, others start shouting in Parliament. A lot of speeches are made but there is no forward movement in Parliament” he said, frustration evident.

But Gandhi was persistently questioned about Adarsh. Finally he got irritated at the questioning and got up.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar reddy was present at the meeting but left early. After their presentations had been made, Gandhi met Chief Ministers individually to talk about specific issues related to their states.