PM's son-in-law, Mahajan's wife figure in Balco debate

PM's son-in-law, Mahajan's wife figure in Balco debate
Ambrish Kumar

RAIPUR, March 1: The Opposition BJP maintained silence when the Congress did not spare even Prime Minister's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya and Pramod Mahajan's wife during the special debate on the Balco issue in the Chhatisgarh Assembly today.

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The House witnessed noisy scenes when the BJP members said the Congress haddouble standards on privatisation. The Congress had started the process of privatisation in 1991 and now it was opposing the move, they said.

Meanwhile, an official resolution was moved following a Cabinet decision opposing the Centre's move to disinvest BALCO. The resolution was critical of the Centre's action and alleged that it was against the interests of the tribals of the state and in violation of the letter and spirit of Schedule V of the Constitution.

Moving the resolution, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce Vidhan Mishra alleged that Ranjan Bhattacharya was behind the deal with Sterlite group which had the wife and brother-in-law of a senior Union minister on its board of directors. He added that they had documentary evidence to prove their nexus. According to Mishra, the Sterlite group was blacklisted by the Ministry of Telecommunications for supplyingsubstandard optic fibres. It was fined Rs 28 crores, he alleged.

Later, Mishra and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ravindra Chaubey told mediapersons that Bhattacharya was involved in controversial deals and was operating from a 5-star hotel in central Delhi.

Leader of the Opposition Nandkumar Sai said the BJP would oppose the official resolution despite an appeal by Leader of the House Ajit Jogi. During a meeting of the tribal advisory committee yesterday, Sai had supported the two resolutions passed by the council, opposing the disinvestment of BALCO and requesting the Governor to exercise his veto power to turn down the Centre's decision.