BJP defends Kiren Rijiju, seeks Congress apology

New Delhi [India], Dec. 13 (ANI): Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Sharma on Tuesday defended Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, dubbing the allegation levelled against him with regard to a power project in Arunchal Pradesh as completely baseless. "The allegation against Rijiu by the Congress party is baseless and contradictory to the fact. Congress is the champion of scams and corruptions," Sharma said, adding that the Congress should apologise for its audacity. Rijiju, his distant cousin, a contractor in Arunachal Pradesh, Goboi Rijiju, and several other officials of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) have been accused of corruption in the construction of two dams for the 600 megawatt Kameng hydro-electric projects, one of the biggest power generating project in Arunachal Pradesh. Sharma further said, "Congress is the centre of all irregularities found in hydro-electric projects." Defending Rijuju he said, "Rijuju only helped small sub-contractors, whose money was seized by the company. He had written a letter seeking help for them." Earlier in the day, Rijiju has brushed aside all allegations of corruption against him, saying that the ones planting such news would be thrashed with shoes, should they come to Arunachal Pradesh. Rijuju asked, "Is helping people corruption?" "This news is nothing but mischief. I did write a letter, but there's nothing suspicious about it," he added. Rijiju is being pilloried by the Congress party in the wake of a 129-page report prepared by Satish Verma, the Chief Vigilance Officer of the North Eastern Electricity Power Corporation (NEEPCO), suggesting that Rijiju and his cousin Goboi Rijiju were involved in a Rs 450 crore plus power project scam.(ANI)