Leader of the Opposition Dr Mukul Sangma of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has vowed to write to the Prime Minister for an investigation into claims that Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar is involved in the drug trade and other illegalities.
The explosive allegations were made by state Congress Party president Vincent Pala recently, though he offered no proof to back up the statement. Although certainly actionable if false, Dhar has not, as far as it is known, taken legal action against Pala.
Speaking to reporters today, Dr Sangma, back in the limelight as opposition leader in the state Assembly, said that the central government should take cognisance of the allegations, at least to those regarding illegal coal mining as coal mining is not a state subject.
Dhar should either confess or take Pala head-on for the serious allegations, Dr Sangma said, adding that Pala should also proceed further if he stands by his claims.
The TMC leader said that the state government has no stomach for tackling corruption because vested interests are benefiting from irregularities. According to him, the government’s modus operandi is to allow illegal acts to take place but persistently deny that they happened.
