Guwahati, June 4: Days after media reports of anomolies in purchase of PEE kits, sanitizers by Assam government during the 1st wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government for the 1st time has officially responded on the allegations. This comes after all the opposition parties had demanded for probe into the allegation raised in a series of reports published by web portals ‘The wirex and ‘The Cross Current’ based on RTI replies from NHM Assam.
The RTI revealed that PPE kits and sanitizer orders were bagged by firms connected to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s family at a much higher rates
“NHM said they didn’t procured any PPE kit From China so we believe that there is huge scandal by the State government by the CM Himanta Biswa Sarma who was Health Minister that time…. (In the) PPE procurement process, the company of CM’s wife is directly involved… Riniki Bhuyan and her company name JCB industry… and her company got 5000 PPE Kit order on 18th March 2020. We are demanding for free and fair inquiry by the CBI… whole CM family is involved with all these cases,” said Rasel Hussain of Raijor Dal.
Assam Information Minister Pijush Hazarika on Saturday claimed that their were no anomalies and it’s a opposition ploy. The opposition has been demanding independent probe or probe by central agencies into the alleged irregularities.
“Not a single PPE kit has been misused, not a single anomaly are there… we procured from 35 firms during first lockdown…. from nine firms we procured sanitizers and it’s was the desision taken by special committee formed by the government on nomination basis… not a single PPE kit was misused… I am so confident…. They (opposition) are totally politically motivated… they are misinforming and they are misguiding people of the country,” said Pijush Hazarika.
Congress hits out at govt
The Congress has also hit out at the government on the issue.
“It’s very shameful for the people of Assam… CM Himanta Biswa Sarma proved that they misled the people of Assam during the Covid pandemic. We have seen some photos in social media where the then Health Minister and present CM of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, he himself claimed that on 15th April 2020 they have purchased 50,000 PPE kits from China but today after RTI reply it is clear that was a jumla baz,” said Apurba Bhattacharya of Congress.
He further said the Assam Congress demands Judicial enquiry into the matter to find out the truth. “Who makes false propaganda? CM himself. Now, we demand enquiry who is false and who is right,” he said.
