GUWAHATI, Feb 25 � Government spokesperson and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that the members of the State cabinet would make the details of their property public by March 10.
These will also be available in the Government�s official website.
Announcing this at a press conference, Sarma said that the declaration of the ministers� assets would cover a period as late as February 28 this year. �Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed the ministers to provide an updated account of their property and we will submit it to the Chief Minister within March 10,� he said.
Sarma also asked the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) � which had been demanding a declaration of assets by the Congress ministers � to reciprocate the same by making public their property. �The AGP has many former ministers and legislators. It is time they declared their assets as well,� he added.
On the State Government�s decision to go for a CBI inquiry into the Rs 1,000-crore scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council, Sarma said that the Government was for a CBI inquiry as it had nothing to hide and wanted the truth to prevail.
�The Chief Minister initially wanted the CBI probe to be preceded by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which would have helped the CBI inquiry as well,� Sarma said.
On the alleged involvement of seven ministers, including himself, in the scam, Sarma said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had clarified on The Week�s news story, ruling out involvement of any minister. �The NIA has rebutted The Week�s report, saying that ministers were not even investigated by it (NIA) and hence there was no question of naming any,� he said.
Sarma also asked the AGP to come up with �specific charges� against him so that he could counter those.
