Congress alleges center for involvement in Rs. 20,000 crore ‘Ujala’ scam; also demands independent probe.

New Delhi, March 27, 2017: The Congress party on Monday put the responsibility at the door of ruling NDA government accusing it for corruption in the process of procurement and distribution of 'Ujala' LED bulbs has given birth to a Rs 20,000-crore scam.

The party charged that the incumbent government was utilizing "dubious and questionable practices" for acquirement and dispersion of LED bulbs and requested an independent probe by a retired Supreme Court judge.

NewsGram brings to you latest new stories in India.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who claims that his government has distributed more than 21 crore LED bulbs, does not tell people that in the process, the government itself is making a mockery of its much-publicised 'Make in India' drive. "Crores of these LED bulbs, LED street lights, pumps and fans are made in China or in Taiwan," said Congress spokesperson Shaktisinh Gohil.

Go to NewsGram and check out news related to political current issues.

Gohil asserted that there was no transparency in the allotment of tender and acquirement of these LED bulbs, street lights, pumps and fans, among others.

"Cost of one such LED street light is about Rs 2,000. If we take into account the irregularities and fraud in the tendering process, this turns out to be a scam of at least Rs 20,000 crore," he said.

Look for latest news from India in NewsGram.

"While the Vigilance Commission mandates that such procurement should be publicised for RFQ (request for quotation) on the basis of merit and should be put on a government website, the Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (the procuring agency) puts it on their own private platforms for a short period, thus manipulating the entire process of tendering," said Gohil.

"Although there are four Power Ministry PSUs involved in this entire process, the companies neither manufacture nor procure any part, not even a diode of the LED bulb. Instead, they procure from Chinese and other foreign companies," he included in his statement.

Follow NewsGram on Facebook

The Congress also pointed out that the Vigilance Commission guidelines categorically state that a third party audit has to be done after such procurement.

-prepared by Ashish Srivastava of NewsGram Twitter @PhulRetard