''Corrupt'' BJP govt caused ''Bundelkhand package scam'': MP Cong
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh Congress on Friday welcomed the state government's decision to get the 'Bundelkhand package scam' probed by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and alleged corruption in the then BJP government had led to irregularities in use of the funds.
A Rs 7,226-crore financial package was announced in 2009 by the Centre to develop the backward districts of the Bundelkhand region, which is spread over Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
"During the UPA government's tenure, the Bundelkhand package was sanctioned because of special interest taken by former party chief Rahul Gandhi," state Congress media department's chairperson Shobha Oza said.
Of Rs 7,226 crore, Madhya Pradesh was supposed to get Rs 3,860 crore, but nothing happened on ground because of "rampant corruption" in the implementation of the scheme, she alleged.
"The then BJP government (in Madhya Pradesh) never wanted to develop the region and the funds were misused to such an extend that the registration number of vehicles meant for transporting stones weighing five tonnes were found to be of two-wheelers," Oza claimed.
Even after the scam was unearthed, the then BJP government headed by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was not interested in probing it, she said.
"It is our government's commitment to probe all scams that took place in the state during the BJP regime, including Vyapam (admission and recruitment scam), Simhastha Kumbh scam, irregularities in e-tendering, pension and tree plantation schemes," she added.
Meanwhile, the BJP said the government is free to probe any scam, but it should not politicise the issue by leveling baseless allegations.
"They should first find out how the Bundelkhand package was implemented by the (then) Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, which was supported by the Congress, and by the BJP in Madhya Pradesh," state BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said.
The Congress had exposed itself by being unsuccessful everywhere, so they are doing this just to politicise the matter and are not serious about it, he added.
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Rocket from Yemen strikes Tel Aviv, injuring 16, as Palestinians mourn 19 dead in Gaza
Tel Aviv, Dec 21: A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people slightly injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday, days after Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians.
A further 14 people sustained minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before the projectile hit just before 4 am Saturday, the military said.
The Houthi rebels issued a statement on the Telegram messaging app saying they had aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target, which they did not identify.
The attack comes less than two days after a series of Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's Houthi rebel-held capital, Sanaa, and port city of Hodeida killed at least nine people. The Israeli strikes were in response to a Houthi attack in which a long-range missile hit an Israeli school building. The Houthis also claimed a drone strike targeting an unspecified military target in central Israel on Thursday.
The Israeli military says the Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and drones during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Houthis have also been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and say they won't stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israeli strikes Thursday caused “considerable damage” to the Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports “that will lead to the immediate and significant reduction in port capacity,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The port at Hodeida has been key for food shipments into Yemen in its decade-long civil war.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said both sides' attacks risk further escalation in the region and undermine UN mediation efforts.
