Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today termed as the “height of wickedness” the allegations levelled against him by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh in connection with the state Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) scam.
Addressing reporters here, Chouhan said he was consulting legal experts for taking appropriate action against the Congress general secretary.
A string of Congress leaders, including Digvijay, had alleged in a press conference yesterday the original excel sheet seized from a computer in connection with the scam was tampered with to “shield” the CM and his family. Digvijay also claimed there was an attempt to “magnify” the role of BJP leader and Union minister Uma Bharati by the agencies probing the scam.
“The allegations are baseless, unfounded and false and an ill-attempt to divert the ongoing investigation. The charges levelled by Digvijay Singh amount to the highest limit of wickedness. It is an evil attempt to malign my image and reputation,” Chouhan said.
The Congress leaders had alleged though Uma's name figured 10 times in the original excel sheet, it was magnified to 17 in the fudged excel sheet submitted by the Special Task Force (STF) to the trial court.
Congress has sought a CBI probe into the scam and Chouhan's resignation.
Seeking to clear the air, the CM said he himself has initiated an inquiry into the irregularities immediately after they surfaced, and even went a step further by ordering a STF probe.
“It has become intolerable for some people to see that an average person has become chief minister who is ably running the government. Repeated defeats of Congress have shaken its mass base and the party has gone in a tizzy,” Chouhan said.
Taking a dig, the senior BJP leader said Congress has lost the strength to compete with the BJP on ground and has resorted to an act of “tarnishing the individual image and personal reputation.”
“Even wife and sons are not spared. Congress is on the verge of facing extinction in Madhya Pradesh and in recent civic body elections also it suffered a 14-0 defeat (BJP won 14 mayoral posts),” Chouhan said.
Downplaying the allegations, Chouhan said they typically become intense against him whenever an Assembly session approaches.
It seems Congress has arrived at a conclusion that it cannot make a comeback in the state without maligning his image, the CM said.
Chouhan said the opposition party is raising questions on the investigation which is conducted on the directions of the high court and being monitored by Special Investigative Team (SIT).
