New Delhi: Will Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal be asked to quit in the wake of his nephew's arrest for allegedly taking a bribe to fix a plum position in the Railway Board? It's not yet certain what decision, if any, the Congress core group, which is currently meeting will take.
Earlier, sources had said that the party would take a decision in this regard after the Karnataka polls.
The BJP, which has been demanding Mr Bansal's resignation, reiterated its demand today. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded a CBI probe in the case and said "the government is trying to shield its ministers."
Mr Bansal met the Prime Minister and even briefed the Core Group of his party, the Congress, yesterday where he explained his position claiming that he had no business links with his nephew nor did he get influenced by him in decision-making. (Read Pawan Bansal's statement)
Mahesh Kumar, who was recently made a member of the Railways Board, reportedly wanted Mr Singla's help to secure a position where he would be in charge of clearing all electrical contracts, which would run into hundreds of crores.
Mr Kumar's alleged agreement with the minister's nephew was for Rs 10 crore, said the CBI. The Rs 90 lakh that he was allegedly caught accepting was just the first installment.
The latest controversy should hurt as the coveted Railways portfolio returned to the Congress after 17 long years; last, it was held by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress before it pulled out of the UPA. More importantly, the allegations are likely to dent Mr Bansal's clean image.
Earlier, sources had said that the party would take a decision in this regard after the Karnataka polls.
The BJP, which has been demanding Mr Bansal's resignation, reiterated its demand today. Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded a CBI probe in the case and said "the government is trying to shield its ministers."
Mr Bansal met the Prime Minister and even briefed the Core Group of his party, the Congress, yesterday where he explained his position claiming that he had no business links with his nephew nor did he get influenced by him in decision-making. (Read Pawan Bansal's statement)
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Mahesh Kumar, who was recently made a member of the Railways Board, reportedly wanted Mr Singla's help to secure a position where he would be in charge of clearing all electrical contracts, which would run into hundreds of crores.
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Mr Kumar's alleged agreement with the minister's nephew was for Rs 10 crore, said the CBI. The Rs 90 lakh that he was allegedly caught accepting was just the first installment.
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The latest controversy should hurt as the coveted Railways portfolio returned to the Congress after 17 long years; last, it was held by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress before it pulled out of the UPA. More importantly, the allegations are likely to dent Mr Bansal's clean image.
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