Now, OBC lawmaker of BJP alleges graft

Amidst dissenting voices emerging within the government, an OBC legislator of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has flagged the issue of corruption in a government department.

lucknow Updated: May 01, 2018 13:48 IST

In a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath dated April 16, lawmaker from Gunnaur assembly seat in Badaun Ajeet Kumar alias Raju Yadav has alleged corruption in the police department in his constituency under its district chief Ravi Shankar. (HT File)

Amidst dissenting voices emerging within the government, an OBC legislator of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has flagged the issue of corruption in a government department.

In letter and spirit
BJP’s dalit MP from Bahraich Savitri Bai Phule was the first to raise the banner of revolt against the party in March. 
Two other dalit MPs, Yashwant Singh and Ashok Dohre, who had earlier been ministers in the BSP government under Mayawati (2007-2012), also wrote letters embarrassing their own government. 
Dalit MP Chhotelal Kharwar wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that top leaders in UP BJP were not listening to the grievances flagged by him. 
Four lawmakers from Badaun wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath saying that the Samajwadi Party MP from Badaun was popular among the people for development and unless matching development work was carried out by the BJP, the party won’t stand a chance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 
Dalit MLA from Saharanpur accused an official of demanding cut for carrying out development work. The official, he claimed, said the cut went to the top. 
An OBC MLA from west UP joined the chorus alleging corruption in the police. He said the police stations had become dens of corruption. 

Ironically, two weeks after receiving the letter, the Adityanath government transferred Ravi Shankar to Azamgarh in the same capacity.

Opposing the decision, the Samajwadi Party questioned if the officer was transferred on the MLA’s complaint, why was he given charge of another district.

Gunnaur is a part of Budaun Lok Sabha seat which is represented by Dharmendra Yadav of the SP while Azamgarh is the Lok Sabha constituency of SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav.

It is a Yadav-dominated assembly segment and an SP bastion that the BJP managed to break in the 2017 UP elections.

“Days after the ruling party MLA alleged corruption in the police department, the officer is transferred only to be given charge of another district. If he was transferred on the MLA’s complaint, why was he shifted to another district in the same capacity,” SP leader Tariq Siddiqui asked.

The Gunnaur MLA himself appeared clueless. “I don’t know why the officer against whom I had written to the government was posted elsewhere? That’s not my job. I had written what I had come to know about the officer,” Kumar said.

On April 24, four BJP lawmakers from Budaun had written to Adityanath saying that development works carried out by the opposition MP in the region had won him loyalty. “Unless the BJP comes up with matching development work, there will be doubts over the party’s chances in 2019 Lok Sabha elections,” they said.

According to political observers, the letters questioning party’s promise on development and checking corruption were embarrassing for the BJP government.

Earlier, BJP’s Dalit faces in UP Ashok Dohrey, Chhotelal Kharwar, Yashwant Singh and Savitri Bai Phule – all first-time MPs – had questioned the BJP’s commitment to Dalit issues.

“Use of such tactics at the time of elections indicates political opportunism,” a BJP leader, who did not wish to be named, said.

According to BJP leaders, with the likelihood of arch rivals SP and BSP teaming up against the BJP in Lok Sabha elections, dalit and OBC lawmakers in the party were jittery.

“Many of them are being poached by opposition parties, which has resulted in a virtual letter writing spree among them,” another BJP leader said.