The Big Story: Dam it

If there’s one difference between the second term of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the current Union government headed by Narendra Modi, it’s the absence of strong allegations of corruption. Even as UPA-II was bogged down by Opposition claims on irregularities in the manner in which telecom licences had been issued, the Modi government has kept itself clean – till now.

This changed on Tuesday, however, as the Chief Vigilance Officer of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 450 crore in the construction of two dams for 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project, one of the biggest hydro-electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh. Named in the CVO’s report is Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, his cousin as well as others.

The site of the dam lies in Rijiju’s parliamentary constituency.

While the allegations remain to be proved in court, what is disappointing till now has been the minister’s reaction. On Tuesday, Rijiju accused people of “planting” this news and said that they would be beaten with slippers if they ever came to Arunachal Pradesh.

Not only has the Indian Express unearthed documents which show that Kiren Rijiju wrote a letter to Union Ministry of Power to release funds to the contractor working on the dam, there also exists an audio tape of Rijuju’s cousin – a sub-contractor on the project – asking officers to clear the payments and offering “any help you need from Bhaiya [the Minister].” The CVO’s reports points out that that many of the bills Rijiju wanted cleared were fake. In one case, tonnes of rocks were said to have been transported using scooters.

Given that the quantity of evidence in this case, the Modi government needs to institute an enquiry and probe the allegations against Rijiju. Instead, the Union ministry of power and Rijiju simply dismissed the allegations.

The Modi government claimed to put in demonetisation to strike at the roots of corruption. Credible allegations of graft against his own minister would, however, end up making Prime Minister Modi’s crusade look hollow. The prime minister needs to step in and make it clear that any sort of wrongdoing – if it has been committed – will not be condoned in his government.

Political Picks

  1. The Bharatiya Janata Party is protesting the awarding of compensation to the family of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani by its own government in Jammu and Kashmir. 
  2. The BJP and the Congress issued whips asking their Parliamentarians to ensure their presence for the remainder of the Winter session which resumes on Wednesday. The issue of demonetisation expects to dominate proceedings.
  3. Patidar leader Hardik Patel has invited Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to address a rally in Gujarat.
  4. In another show of support for Sasikalaa, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MPs visited former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence and asked her to steer the party.

Punditry

  1. Post-demonetisation, the Modi government could try simultaneous Parliament and state polls. However, this attack on the Union federal structure should be vigorously challenged, writes HK Dua in the Indian Express.
  2. India and Bangladesh need to urgently work out an arrangement over sharing the waters of the Teesta river, writes Joyeeta Bhattacharjee in the Hindustan Times.
  3. The expiration of India’s bilateral investment treaty with the Netherlands due to India unilaterally terminating the treaty will harm foreign investment in India, argue Prabhash Ranjan and Pushkar Anand in the Hindu.

Giggle

Don’t Miss

In Goa, the Bharatiya Janata Party grows alarmed at the prospect of new saffron alliances splitting its vote share, reports Pamela D’Mello.

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party was the dominant party in Goa after the state freed itself from Portuguese rule in 1961, but has, over the years, been come to be sidelined by the Congress and later, the BJP.

However, it is critical for the BJP to have the saffron party on its side when it goes to polls next year, amid public perception that the ruling party has not delivered on key promises made in 2012, earning the BJP-led government the nickname “U turn government”. One of these, also in the party’s 2012 election manifesto, was that the state would be granted special status – something Paresekar ruled out in November. The Aam Aadmi Party, which is also contesting the polls next year, has taken advantage of this and has promised special status to the state if it comes to power.

Subscribe to “The Daily Fix” by either downloading Scroll’s Android app or opting for it to be delivered to your mailbox.