Probe Gujarat's 1 lakh cr scams: Cong to Prez

With assembly polls in Gujarat scheduled next year, the Congress on Friday opened a new front against Chief Minister Narendra Modi by petitioning President Pratibha Patil for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged corruption of Rs 1 lakh crore during his tenure.

Congress leaders from the state including Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Arjun Modhwadia and Congress legislature party leader Shaktisinh Gohil along with 40 party members of Legislative Assembly and six members of Parliament presented to the president a memorandum including what they called as a "documentary proof" of 1000-page about large scale corruption.

Seeking a probe into it by national agencies -- either the CBI or the National Investigation Agency -- into the matter, the delegation which also comprised AICC General Secretary Mohan Prakash told Patil that the office of Lokayukta has been "kept vacant" for past seven years. Their contention was that since the chief minister was himself involved, the state government will not be able to investigate these offences.

"The Government of Gujarat and the chief minister have committed corruption in several projects. Therefore for appropriate direction and action the aforesaid facts are being brought to Your Excellency's notice so as to take appropriate action including criminal prosecution of all the concerned," they told the president.

The leaders alleged that the "Niira Radia culture" in Gujarat started after Modi became chief minister and the total corruption in his regime is "more than Rs 1 lakh crore".

The Congress has been campaigning against Modi for his alleged role in the communal riots that took place in the state after the Godhra incident in 2002. Modi has been at the helm in Gujarat for nearly a decade.