Corruption rampant in Yogi government: BJP MLAs

Lawmakers alleged that they were being harassed and insulted by corrupt officials, seek inquiry in to assets of government officials

A day after sitting on dharna against their own government, the Bhartiya Janta Party legislators further embarrassed their party on Wednesday as they said in the assembly that corruption was rampant in the Yogi Adityanath government.

Nand Kishore Gujjar, the MLA from Loni (Ghaziabad), who was denied to speak in the assembly on Tuesday about his harassment and insult, leading him and other BJP MLAs to sit on protest, told the assembly on Wednesday, “In Ghaziabad, government officials openly charge commission, which is usually 18 to 22 per cent of the project cost. I haven't taken a single paisa so far; hence, I am being dubbed as criminal. Please extend help to me.”

He further shocked the assembly by saying, “Mafias rule in Ghaziabad. There must be a probe of assets of all government officials, their wives, and the NGOs they run. Even my assets can be probed.”

Another BJP MLA Harsh Bajpayi said, “The officials are used to corrupt practices and they indulge in it fearlessly. They believe that the government keeps keep on changing and they are here to stay. Their jobs are safe.”

Their statements on record have shocked the BJP and indicates that all is not well with the MLAs despite having their own government. Some critics also dubbed the face-off as a 'revolt', while some call it as a show of strength by Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya.

BJP leaders fear that the episode will provide opposition another weapon to corner the government. “The Congress and Samajwadi Party are already attacking on the issue of law and order. Now, they will mount pressure on the issue of corruption as well,” a senior party leader admitted.

BJP pressed panic button after the revolt. The CM and BJP state chief Swatantra Deo Singh met MLAs in groups of 40. Their meeting was organised hurriedly and in to calm down the flames.