Congress leaders call on President Patil with petition seeking Chauhan’s resignation

NEW DELHI - A group of Congress party leaders from Madhya Pradesh met President Pratibha Devisingh Patil here on Wednesday demanding the resignation or dismissal of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Led by Suresh Pachauri, chief of the Madhya Pradesh unit of Congress party, the group submitted a petition to President Patil, and said that a thorough probe must be carried out into charges of corruption and nepotism against Chauhan.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Pachauri said that they brought to the notice of the President about an FIR (first information report) registered against Chauhan in 2007.

“As per the orders of a court, in the year 20007, a FIR was lodged against Shivraj Singh Chauhan by the Lokayukta under the Anti-Corruption Act and other issues of the special police establishment. But it has been three years and the investigation is yet not completed,” Pachauri said.

He further said that Chauhan should have himself resigned on principles of political ethics after the Lokayukta had noted the charges besides the FIR.

“On the grounds of morality as well, the Chief Minister should have resigned after the FIR was lodged against him. From legal point of view too, he should not be retained in this post,” Pachauri said. (ANI)