AAP accuses BJP govt of corruption in deployment of 400 electric buses in Delhi

New Delhi: AAP on Saturday accused BJP govt of corruption, alleging that 400 electric buses were procured last Oct, but were not allowed to run due to a violation of the clause that 50% of the components should be ‘Made in India'. They demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
AAP Delhi convener Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that the manufacturers failed to provide certification that half of the components used in the buses were produced in India. "If these buses were unfit then, how are they magically compliant now?" Bharadwaj asked while accusing BJP of "falsely" claiming credit for procuring them.

Delhi BJP said the buses were made operational after following the legal procedure, which the previous AAP govt failed to do. Bharadwaj, however, accused BJP govt of repackaging AAP dispensation's electric Mohalla Buses project, inaugurated last Oct, as Delhi Electric Vehicle Initiative (DEVI) to take "undue credit". It is a "blatant attempt to mislead the public", he alleged.
The AAP functionary mentioned that the procurement of the buses was managed by central govt to prevent any corruption allegations. He added that the buses did not meet the 50% 'Make in India' compliance and, hence, were not certified. "Did BJP govt simply ignore the tender rules and put the buses on the roads for the sake of optics?" he wondered.
Calling it a potential scam involving thousands of crores, Bharadwaj said an investigation was required to ascertain whether the irregularity occurred at the level of officials or under political direction.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva termed the allegations as a reflection of Bharadwaj's "political desperation" and his tendency to "mislead the public". "Why did his govt fail to put the buses on the roads even after inaugurating them? BJP govt followed proper legal procedures and made the buses operational," he claimed.
He added that there were some technical and documentation formalities that Delhi govt needed to complete with the supplier company. "In a rush to score political points ahead of elections, Atishi govt hastily announced the inauguration of these buses without completing the required procedure. Now, with a shortage of buses in Delhi, BJP govt initiated the certification process and obtained safety affidavits from the supplier," he said.