GUWAHATI, Dec 30: The controversy surrounding the multi-crore Letter of Credit (LoC) veterinary department scandal took a curious turn today with the CBI seeking sanction for prosecution of the Chief Minister and the issue rocking proceedings of the Assembly leading to its adjournment sine die amid unprecedented pandemonium.The major Opposition Congress called on the Govenor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha today to demand resignation of the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta while the ruling Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislature party reposed full faith in his leadership.
CBI SP, Surjit Singh Deswal called on the Governor late last evening and submitted over 100-page document seeking sanction to prosecute Mahanta.
The secretary to the Governor, A K sachan, said that besides the Chief Minister, notable among others sought to tbe prosecuted include Nakul Das, a former veterinary minister in the erstwhile Congress government headed by the Hiteshwar Saikia.
The CBI move to prosecute the Mahant had its echo inthe State Assembly with irate Congress members forcing adjournment of the house sine die. A no-confidence motion against the Mahanta-led alliance government was defeated by voice vote after Congress walked out of the House saying the government has lost confidence of the people. As the Congress members walked out of the House, the Speaker put the motion for vote which was subsequently defeated by voice vote and adjourned the house sine die.
The Congress later protested to the Speaker's decision claiming that the motion could not be put to vote as it was not moved by them at all while the Assembly sources maintained that once the motion was admitted it had to be put to vote. Meanwhile a delegation of the Congress met the Governor and demanded dismissal of the Chief Minister for his alleged involvement in the scam.
Speaking to newsmen at the Raj Bhavan after meeting the Governor, leader of the Congress delegation and PCC-I chief, Tarun Gogoi, said the Governor had told them that he would take ``reasonable
time'' to examine the papers and take a decision in the matter.
On the other side, the AGP legislative party met this evening and reposed full faith in the leadership of Mahanta.
They alleged that the Congress had hatched a conspiracy to malign the CM and said the party would unitedly fight under the leadership of Mahanta to bring about a healthy political atmosphere in the State.
AGP stands by Chief Minister
AGP decides to rally behind Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, alleges plot by the Congress to malign their leader's name before the Lok Sabha elections.
Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
