By Rukma Singh
Seems like BJP's never ending claims of 'Acche Din' and regular attempts at ensuring cleanliness through the 'Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan' don't necessarily ensure that the 'secret' scams and controversies stay under wraps.
With regular scrutiny of the media and opposition parties, which are ready to pounce on at every little opportunity they get, the BJP government hasn't come out clean in its first year of 'good governance.'
NewsGram brings to you the most prominent scams and controversies that have occurred in the past one year of 'acche din.'
NULM Scam
In the last financial year, Centre had granted Rs. 1,078 crore to the states for constructing housing facilities for over 9 lakh urban homeless people, under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
However, only 208 houses were built across the country. While around 10 lakh urban people continue to live on roads, footpaths and under flyovers, the NDA government's response is highly awaited.
Vyapam Scam
Vyapam scam was a massive admission and recruitment scam involving politicians, senior officials and businessmen.
Indore Bench of MP High Court served notices to Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB) and Medical Council of India (MCI) following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by parents of some students after reports that more than 300 ineligible candidates managed to get into the merit list.
As per some reports, it is one of the biggest scandals to rock Madhya Pradesh. What followed the scandal was a series of mysterious deaths of around 44 people.
Officials investigating the matter claimed that those arrested took the name of people who were already dead, a method used by organized crime syndicates to mislead the probe.
Modi Gate
The most recent controversy that has sparked numerous debates is the alleged help extended by Sushma Swaraj to Lalit Modi, in order to allow him to fly to London.
Congress and Aam Admi Party took this chance to rally and protest against BJP. They went on to demand Swaraj's resignation from the party.
Within few days of the incident, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje also got embroiled in the controversy with allegations of her having engaged in conversation with Modi to facilitate his travel.
Maharastra Scam
Pankaja Munde's involvement:
What is said to be the first scam to have happened under the Devendra Fadnavis-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra, the opposition has accused state's Women and Child Development Minister Pankaja Munde of irregularities in purchases for the Integrated Child Development Scheme, a supplementary nutrition scheme for vulnerable children and women.
Munde, daughter of former central Cabinet Minister Gopinath Munde, is accused of awarding contracts worth Rs 230-crore for snacks, dishes, water filters etc for ICDS child care centres, or anganwadis, through 24 government resolutions on a single day on February 13. Moreover, the food given to the undernourished children was extremely low on quality.
Vinod Tawde's involvement:
Education minister Vinod Tawde has become the second minister in the Maharashtra government to be accused of irregularities in awarding contracts, with authorities seeking a probe into allegations that his department finalised a Rs 191-crore contract without mandatory e-tendering.