Assam minister is corrupt, says BJP MP RP Sarma

A war of words on 4 October between Assam Irrigation Minister Ranjit Dutta and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP R.P. Sarma has embarrassed the party.

Sarma, a Lok Sabha member from Tezpur in the state, has accused Dutta of taking bribes from contractors for allocating work in his department.

The MP also alleged some other ministers in Assam also take at least 10 per cent commission and demanded a probe into his allegations.

"Our government came to power due to the trust of the people. We must keep the faith. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is non-corrupt and he must probe the allegations," said Sarma.

Dutta denied the allegations. "The statements of the Lok Sabha MP will affect the party and the Assam government negatively," he said.

"When people lose their natural balance and suffer from depression, they tend to make such baseless statements," he said, adding he was going to submit a written complaint to the party leadership in Assam.

-IANS