Prosecute Modi: Congress

GPCC chief says state govt indulged in scam amounting to Rs 9,100 cr to benefit corporate house

Ahmedabad Mirror Bureau amfeedback@indiatimes.com

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee President Arjun Modhwadia has demanded prosecution of Chief Minister Narendra Modi under provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act for extending undue favour to a corporate house.
Referring to the Supreme Court order directing Essar Oil to pay Rs 9,100 crore in deferred sales tax to the state government, Modhwadia said that all those guilty of corruption in this case should be prosecuted.
Narendra Modi government, Modhwadia alleged, had extended a benefit of Rs 6,030 crore to Essar Oil Company. This is the biggest scandal ever of any state government to benefit a corporate body, he said, presenting documents to prove his stand. Essar Oil had not deposited sales tax and VAT which is required to be paid at the prevalent rates.
Modhwadia stated that the state’s Commercial Tax Department would have harassed a small trader or industrial unit by imposing on them 150 per cent penalty had they delayed payment of sales tax.
He said Congress will approach higher offices, including the governor, in this regard.
ESSAR BAGS RS 286-CRORE CONTRACT FROM STATE GOVT
Essar Projects on Monday said it won a Rs 286-crore contract from state government to lay a pipeline system, which is part of Sardar Sarovar Narmada canalbased drinking water supply project. ‘Essar Projects was awarded the contract by Gujarat Water Infrastructure Ltd to engineer, procure, construct and commission a 2,300 mm x 51 km water pipeline system,” the firm said in a statement. The project, scheduled for completion in a year, is part of the ambitious bulk water transmission system project being implemented by Gujarat government. It is one of the eight packages of Sardar Sarovar canal-based drinking water supply project for seven districts of Saurashtra, Kutch, Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, Mehsana and the Panchmahals. PTI