Dharsiwa Congress MLA Anita Yogendra Sharma has written a letter to Congress National President Sonia Gandhi, demanding action against Panchayat and Rural Development Department officer Ashok Chaturvedi, who is allegedly facing corruption charges.

 

In the letter, Congress MLA Anita Yogendra Sharma mentioned that if action is not taken against corrupt officials and those who protect them are not identified, the Congress party may lose its popularity in State. In the letter, the Congress MLA mentioned that Ashok Chaturvedi had given work order to a black-listed firm during his tenure at State Text Book Corporation.

 

Financial irregularities had taken place at Chhattisgarh State Text Book Corporation during the tenure of Ashok Chaturvedi, who was posted as the General Manager of Chhattisgarh State Text Book Corporation. Crores of rupees were allegedly embezzled during his tenure. In this matter, an FIR has been registered against Ashok Chaturvedi at Anti Corruption Bureau, she added in the letter.

 

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) State President Amit Sahu alleged that it is a totally irrelevant demand of the Congress leaders for action against an officer of the Panchayat and Rural Development. The Congress MLA’s letter has bared the factionalism within the Congress and the Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress Government. The Congress party leaders are only making political statements. The Congress Government should conduct free and fair inquiry in this matter so that truth can be established. Moreover the Congress has its government, but an MLA is forced to write a letter to the party National Interim President for action against an officer and this shows the inaptness of the Congress Government, the BJYM State President said.

 

The letter by Congress MLA Anita Yogendra Sharma has brought to fore the internal conflicts within the Congress Government. Sources claimed that with the struggle for power in the state getting intense there seems to be an attempt by a section of the Congress leaders trying to defame a Cabinet Minister in State. This is an issue which the government could have handled smoothly but an MLA writing a letter to Sonia Gandhi in this matter sense fishy and beyond a rational comprehension. It may be mentioned that Ashok Chaturvedi was posted at the State Text Book Corporation on deputation. In 2019, the Congress Government sent Ashok Chaturvedi to his parental department. At present, Ashok Chaturvedi is posted as State Manager of Rural Skill Development Yojana and Director National Rural Livelihood Mission.