BJP asks Speaker to replace Azam from Vidhan Sabha panel

BJP Legislature Party leader Hukum Singh has written to Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey for replacing Azam Khan from the post of chairman of a Vidhan Sabha committee, which was formed to probe alleged diversion of district plan funds and anomalies in fee reimbursement of OBC students during the Mayawati regime, saying that the committee has not held a single meeting in the last two months.

Singh has alleged deliberate delay in the probe on part of the minister, and said that it showed the government's 'go soft' approach towards the illegalities committed during the BSP regime. "No action has been taken against any of the misdeeds of the BSP regime. SP leaders only made lofty claims. I had thought that Khan will take interest in exposing these scams, but he has not called a single meeting," said Singh.

During the budget session of the Assembly, the issue of fund diversion from the district plan and anomalies in fee reimbursement of students was raised by Singh. "I had information that Rs 1,035 crore never reached the intended beneficiaries. So, I had raised the issue in the Assembly," he said.

When the issue received support from many other members, the Speaker constituted a committee of the House, headed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan to probe the matter. The committee included Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Mathur, Rashtriya Lok Dal's Dalveer Singh, Hukum Singh and Revenue Minister Ambika Choudhary as members. Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya's name was also included, but he opted out.

The committee was assigned the task to probe diversion of funds from the district plan during the fiscal 2011-12 and embezzlement in the funds meant for fee reimbursement for OBC students of engineering and medical colleges during the year 2010-11. The committee was asked to submit its report to the Speaker in the third session.

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