This Article is From Jul 09, 2015

'My Mission to Get to Bottom of Journalist's Death,' Says Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan

Advertisement
New Delhi: Early this morning, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met the family of Akshay Singh, the journalist who died on Saturday while reporting on the Vyapam scam.

Mr Chouhan said after his visit to the journalist's East Delhi home, "We can't do anything to bring the son and the brother back. But we will extend all support. We offer assistance and a job."

"It is my mission in life to get to the bottom of this. I appeal that the CBI should probe this," the Chief Minister said about the massive Vyapam recruitment scam that has besieged his government. At least 36 people linked to the scam have died.

On Tuesday, Mr Chouhan had requested the Madhya Pradesh High Court to order a CBI inquiry into the scam. The High Court turned down the Chief Minister's request, saying it cannot take that decision as the Supreme Court will hear petitions on it today.

Last evening, Mr Chouhan ruled out obliging the Congress by meeting its demand for his resignation, but told reporters that he would also request the Supreme Court to order a CBI inquiry.

Advertisement
"The questions raised in the past three to four days made me give in to the public sentiment... The atmosphere after Akshay's death created this," he said.

 While conducting an interview in Madhya Pradesh with the family of a young woman who had died in 2012, Akshay Singh had begun foaming at the mouth and soon collapsed.

Advertisement
The Delhi-based journalist's death brought the scam and the alarming number of deaths, many mysterious, of people linked to it, into national focus.

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had attended the funeral on Sunday. On Wednesday, Mr Kejriwal and his deputy, Manish Sisodia and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too visited Akshay Singh's residence in East Delhi.

Advertisement
Mr Kejriwal too has offered the journalist's sister a job and the family, financial help, Mr Sisodia said.
 
Advertisement