The Biju Janata Dal’s decision to raise corruption cases of the erstwhile UPA government had raised many eyebrows. The Congress alleged that the BJD is playing into the hands of BJP. But the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab says exposing the Congress does not imply that it is in cahoots with the ruling party. He spoke to BusinessLine on the issues that could come up during the second lap of Parliament’s Budget Session.
What made you take up cases against UPA in the Lok Sabha recently?
The major issue that brought this government to power was the anger of the public against corruption at multifarious levels of the previous UPA government. Corruption is still the main issue that eats our society. The BJP, which came to power promising to punish the guilty, has not moved an inch in prosecuting them. They failed to bring back black money stashed away in foreign banks. Cases are pending in courts because of the inability of investigating agencies to prosecute the corrupt.
Look at the Commonwealth Games scam. Not a single charge-sheet has been filed. We should not forget the Anna Hazare movement that fought the corruption of UPA government. This government failed to constitute the Lokpal. Many States are yet to form Lokayuktas. We are concerned about such things. It seems that the intention is not to catch the culprits.
But the Congress says you are hand-in-glove with the BJP…
Our position in Parliament is in the Opposition. We are opposed to this government. We are opposed to the previous government also. So, the misdeeds of the previous government cannot be wished away. When we raised issues of corruption, why would the Congress feel that we are with the BJP? We want to force the present government to act against the misdeeds of the previous government. It may not be helpful to Congress. It might be exposing.
You did not show the same vigour on issues such as Vyapam and LalitGate…
I had given three notices on Vyapam and Lalit Modi scams. Personal attacks, of course, we don’t cherish that. But the systemic failure of Vyapam needs to be investigated and the guilty should be prosecuted. But when we say this, it has to be noted that we don’t want to join the chorus of the Congress. The manner in which they determine the agenda is not our agenda. Demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister will not serve the purpose.
We will continue to raise corruption issues at various levels. When we are discussing demands for grants of various ministries it will come up for discussion.
The BJP claims this is a corruption-free government and is sympathetic to States
I would only say that from 2004 to 2009, when the Left was supporting the UPA, everybody said the government was functioning very well. But after 2011, when the CAG reports came, everybody came to know the whole corruption that happened during the time. This government hasn’t completed even two years. So if the BJP is saying it is functioning well, let us hope that it is not indulging in corruption. But we can finally come to know of what has really happened. There are certain issues relating to Communications and IT. I think in the very near future those issues will come out.
This government is neglecting States like West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. Whatever can be done is being done to States like Andhra Pradesh? We have been demanding special provisions for poverty-hit areas. We were opposed to the Polavaram project. The case is pending in Supreme court. Still, Andhra Pradesh is proceeding with the construction [of the Polavaram project]. The Centre is helping the State government in this. How can Union government become a party when the case is pending in Supreme Court? There is no environmental clearance, there is dispute on the height of the dam, there was no public hearing… We are concerned. The Centre is taking a one-sided stand.