Seeking the resignation of Minister for Public Works K. Lakshminarayan following the arrest of senior PWD officers by the Central Bureau of Investigation, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy on Monday said the decision of CBI to initiate probe against the officers was a blot on the AINRC-BJP government.

Addressing journalists, he said the Congress has been raising various corruption charges against the AINRC government. The Congress has highlighted alleged wrongdoings in PWD, Excise, Smart City projects, Land Registration and Local Administration departments, he said.

Holding the Chief Minister responsible for the functioning of officers, the Congress leader alleged “the officers cannot do anything without the knowledge of the Chief Minister. He is in the know of everything.”

The Congress, he said, has decided to launch an agitation seeking the resignation of PWD Minister. He also wanted the CBI to conduct an impartial probe to bring the truth behind the corruption charges.

CPI expresses concern

The Congress party’s ally, the CPI, has also expressed concern over the growing corruption charges against government officials. In a statement, CPI Puducherry secretary A. M Saleem, said the arrest of Chief Engineer and Executive Engineer of PWD were the latest vindication of graft charges raised against the AINRC-BJP government.

“In the tenure of this government, tax payers money is wasted because of corruption. Before the arrest of PWD officials, senior officials in the Revenue Department at the level of Director were arrested and remanded to custody in a temple land scam. The Chief Minister and Ministers should hold responsibility for the corruption charges. The CBI should conduct an impartial probe into the charges,” he said.