By IANS
Bhopal : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday refused to oblige the opposition by accepting its demand to quit over the alleged corruption in purchasing of four dumpers.
“I will not quit over the dumper issue and would face a no-confidence motion in the assembly,” Chouhan told reports after the state assembly was adjourned for the day.
Chouhan said he was prepared to debate the matter with the opposition in the house or at any other forum which they deem fit.
“The Opposition,” he said, “was making unnecessary hue and cry over an issue on which I am prepared to answer every query, but they seem to be having little faith in democratic systems.”
“I have said earlier, and I repeat it again, that four dumpers were purchased for Rs.720,000 after obtaining a loan of Rs.650,000.”
Chouhan also described as baseless the allegations levelled by former chief minister Digvijay Singh and Leader of Opposition Jamuna Devi, and said that the Congress had no right to teach him lessons on morality.
“If they have facts, let them bring them out.”
The Lokayukt Special Police Establishment had registered an FIR against the chief minister, his wife and others for alleged corruption in purchase of four dumpers that were later hired out to the Rewa-based J.P. Cement. The FIR was registered following the directive of a local special court.
The opposition plans to move a no-confidence motion against the BJP government Wednesday.
Besides the dumper issue, other matters to be taken up against the government and on which the no-confidence would be sought include involvement of at least a dozen ministers in alleged corrupt practices, poor condition of roads, irregular power supply and increasing law and order problems in the state.
The Congress move, however, does not seem to pose any threat to the stability of the government, which completes four years in office Dec 7. The ruling BJP has 168 legislators in a 230-member house.