‘I should get credit, not criticism, for exposing scam’

NEW DELHI: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been under attack over the Vyapam (MP Professional Examination Board) recruitment scam. In an exclusive interview to HT, his first to a newspaper after the scam surfaced, Chouhan hits back at his detractors, saying he should be credited — not attacked — for the expose. Excerpts:

Is the recruitment scam a blow to your government’s image?

Last year, I got an anonymous letter that proxy candidates were writing the PMT exam, conducted by Vyapam. I got it probed. When it appeared we have hit just the tip of an iceberg, an STF was formed. Today, a former minister, a senior police officer and government officials are behind the bars. Should I be credited for exposing the scam and acting against the culprits or attacked for this?

How true are the allegations of ‘jobs for sale’ in Madhya Pradesh?

Of the over 3.5 lakh appointments made in my tenure, only 228 are under the scanner. Even though it was just a fraction, I got it probed. The result of my government’s efforts to crack the whip on corruption is for everyone to see.

Did your wife influence the appointment process?

The Congress accused my wife of getting jobs for 17 of her relatives from Gondia (in Maharashtra) in the transport department. Records show not a single candidate from there got a job. Even media targeted her without an iota of evidence. This was unfair treatment to a woman who is not in public life. Shouldn’t the media have tried to find out the truth before believing what was told to them by my rivals?

Has the series of scams tarnished the state as being among the most corrupt in India?

I have two options before me: either to brush the cases of corruption under the carpet or act upon them. I will always do the latter. The Lokayukta conducted raids, booked corrupt officials and attached their properties. The corruption cases were tried in a timebound manner through special courts.