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| Paswan's personal expenses on increase | | Clandestine flow of money triggers sensation | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, NOV. 17
'Pro-active' Union Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan, seems to be in trouble, with the unexpected disclosure of the clandestine flow of money from a public sector undertaking to meet his stepped-up personal expenses. Paswan, who is the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is also in charge of the Ministry of Steel.
A report circulated in Delhi on Friday morning has claimed that there is proof that the Steel Authority of India Limited, reputed public sector undertaking (PSU), has been footing Ram Vilas Paswan's personal expenses. And if the report were to be believed, a letter written by Officer on Special Duty (OSD) asigned to Paswan, RP Rathi, to the chairman of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), asks the PSU to pay two bills for Paswan's mobile amounting to over Rs 77,000.
Another letter, the report adds, sugests that SAIL also purchased a cellular phone worth Rs 24,000 for Ram Vilas Paswan's Additional Private Secretary, Yogendra Paswan.
But Paswan denies all knowledge of these transactions. Ram Vilas Paswan has been quoted as asserting: "The accusations about the mobile bill are false". How many inconvenient questions Paswan will answer? And one of these qauestions is: Did the Steel Authority of India Limited hire a chartered plane for Rs 1.5 lakh for Paswan's recent trip to Jaipur?
Equally important question: Did the SAIL spend nearly Rs 1 crore on the wedding of Paswan's daughter? It has been alleged that the leter writen by Paswan's Additional Private Secretary to the SAIL chairman listed out the requirements for the marriage.
The package of requirements inter alia included the construction of a temporary shed, paving the house with new tiles and the construction of a visitors' room. While fielding a question in this conection, Paswan reportedly came forward with a brief reply: "I am a public representative. If someone comes to my place, should not we make new room for the guest?"
Be that as it may, some documents, the report points out, also show that SAIL "routinely mets the bills for diesel" supplied to Paswan's offical residence. If the report were any guide, Stel Authority of India Limited even pays the salaries of two private security guards posted there. Salaries amount to Rs 12,000.
Yet another allegation: SAIL also spends nearly Rs 18,000 for maintaining the two gardens in Ram Vilas Paswan's house. |
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