Delhi Health Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday, 4 June, accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of corruption for awarding contracts for COVID PPE kits to his wife’s company and son's business partner during the pandemic. He claimed that the CM had also paid a higher rate for the same kits.
Meanwhile, Sarma threatened to file a defamation case against Sisodia.
At the press conference, Sisodia claimed that the firm had taken ‘advantage of the COVID-19 emergency’. While citing a media report, he said, “While the contract given to the firm of Sarma's wife was cancelled as the company could not supply PPE kits, another supply order was given to the firm belonging to the business partners of his son at a rate of ₹1,680 per kit.”
Two websites had collaborated on the story and published it two days ago, said Jain. He added that the firm in question does not generally deal with medical equipment.
‘Want to Probe BJP’s Understanding of Corruption’
Drawing parallels with AAP leader Satyendar Jain’s arrest in connection with a money-laundering case, Jain said, “Will the BJP have courage to take action against its own leader or will it keep hounding us with made-up cases?”
"They talk of corruption and level baseless allegations against members of opposition parties. I want to probe their understanding of corruption... want to ask them if they consider this (Assam case) corruption or not."Manish Sisodia
He added that Jain is innocent and his truth will come out eventually. He said the Enforcement Directorate arrested Satyendar Jain on false charges of corruption and that the Centre had told the court on Friday that he is "not an accused".
Will See You Soon in Guwahati As You Will Face Criminal Defamation: Sarma
Sarma took to Twitter on Saturday and said that Assam hardly had any PPE kits then and said he would see Sisodia soon in Guwahati "as you will face criminal defamation."
"At a time when the entire country was facing the worst pandemic in over 100 years, Assam hardly had any PPE Kits. My wife took the courage of coming forward and donating around 1500 free of cost to the govt to save lives. She didn’t take a single penny (sic)," Sarma tweeted.
"While you Mr Manish Sisodia at that point of time showed a completely different side. You refused my multiple calls to help Assamese people stuck in Delhi. I can never forget one instance when I had to wait 7 days just to get a Assamese covid victim’s body from Delhi’s mortuary (sic.)," he added.
"Stop sermonising and I will see you soon in Guwahati as you will face criminal defamation."
Meanwhile, Government spokesman Pijush Hazarika said there was no scam in the supply of PPE kits and no members of the Sarma's family were involved in the supply of any material related to the COVID pandemic.
The allegations are ''false, imaginary, malicious and can be attributed as the handiwork of a certain section with vested interests,'' Hazarika said.
''Why are the two organisations (who made the claims) not going to the Court if they have evidence instead of making false and baseless allegations ?'' he added.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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