Assam CM awarded contracts for supply of PPE kits to companies of wife-son partners: Manish Sisodia

Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia has alleged that in the year 2020, when the country was battling the Kovid-19 epidemic, the Assam government ‘excessively paid the company and son of the company of the then Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma’s wife. Contracts were given to supply PPE kits at ‘rates’. In this regard, ‘The Wire’ and ‘The Cross Current’ had published reports on June 1. The Assam government and Himanta Biswa Sharma have denied the allegations.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Saturday alleged that in the year 2020, when the country was battling the Kovid-19 epidemic, the Assam government killed Himanta Biswa Sharma, then Health Minister. Contracts were awarded to the wife’s company and the son’s business partners to supply PPE kits at “exorbitant rates”.

However, the Assam government has denied allegations that the family of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma was involved in alleged misconduct in supplying PPE kits during the pandemic. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and current Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma has also denied these allegations.

Sharma has threatened to file a criminal defamation case against Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia following these allegations. Sisodia told a press conference in New Delhi that two websites worked on the news and published it two days back. Sharma said in a series of tweets that Assam had hardly any PPE kits then. He said, ‘My wife showed the courage to come forward and donated about 1500 PPE kits to the government to save the lives of people. He didn’t take a single penny.

While you Mr Manish Sisodia at that point of time showed a completely different side. You refused my multiple calls to help Assamese people stuck in Delhi. I can never forget one instance when I had to wait 7 days just to get a Assamese covid victim’s body from Delhi’s mortuary.

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 4, 2022

The Chief Minister thanked the then Director of National Health Mission (HHM) Dr. Appreciation letter received from Lakshmanan is also attached. Sharma’s wife Rinki Sharma Bhuyan is a partner in JCB Industries. He said in another tweet, ‘Sir Manish Sisodia showed a completely different side at that time. You have turned down many of my calls to help the Assamese people stuck in Delhi. I will never forget an instance when I had to wait just 7 days to receive the body of an Assamese COVID victim from the morgue in Delhi. ,

Sharma said, ‘Stop preaching. I will deal with you in Guwahati when you (Sisodia) face the criminal defamation case.

Sisodia tweeted, ‘Hon’ble Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma ji! Here is your wife’s contract to buy 5000 kits in the name of JCB Industries at Rs 990 per kit. Tell me is this paper fake? Is it not corruption to order purchase of your wife’s company without issuing a tender when she was the health minister?

माननीय मुख्यमंत्री @himantabiswa जी! यह रहा आपकी पत्नी की JCB इंडस्ट्रीज के नाम 990/- प्रति किट के हिसाब से 5000 किट ख़रीदने का contract… बताइए क्या यह काग़ज़ झूँठा है?

क्या स्वास्थ्यमंत्री रहते अपनी पत्नी की कम्पनी को बिना टेंडर purchase order देना भ्रष्टाचार नहीं है? https://t.co/qHcZYjfkrv pic.twitter.com/XR5q9V2bTe

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) June 4, 2022

Sisodia said that the Assam government bought PPE kits from other companies at Rs 600 per kit. He said that Sharma “taking advantage of the COVID-19 emergency” ordered immediate supply of a PPE kit for Rs 990 to his wife’s company and son’s business partners.

He alleged that Sharma’s wife’s firm does not even do business of medical equipment. Sisodia was quoted as saying by the news, “Though the contract awarded to the firm of Sharma’s wife was cancelled, as the company could not supply the PPE kits, another supply order to the company belonging to business partners of their son was 1,680. was given at the rate of Rs.

“This is a big scam perpetrated by the Chief Minister of Assam and his close aides,” he said. It is a case of corruption and the ED is (behind Satyendar Jain, who is working hard to provide quality healthcare to the residents of Delhi.” he alleged, ‘ Rs 990 each to the business partners of Sharma’s son. Received an attractive order for supply of PPE kits at kit rate. Agile Associates, a company owned by a business partner of Sharma’s wife, got an order for 10,000 PPE kits at Rs 2,205 per kit.’

Sisodia alleged, ‘ These close associates of the Sharma family got orders for supply of PPE kits at the rate of Rs 1,680 per kit, despite the incomplete supply of the order.The AAP leader asked why are the BJP members remained silent on the alleged corruption by a chief minister of a BJP-ruled state?

Sisodia said, “They talk of corruption and level baseless allegations against the members of the opposition parties. I want to know about his understanding of corruption. Want to ask them whether they consider it (Assam case) to be corruption or not.

He said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on “fake” charges of corruption and the Center on Friday told the court that he was “not an accused”.

Significantly, on May 30, the ED had arrested Satyendra Jain in the money laundering case after questioning Jain for several hours. Hitting out at Sisodia, Assam Chief Minister Sharma tweeted, “Although NHM issued order, company did not pay any bills and kit was gifted to the government.” Not a single penny transaction took place, where is the corruption? ‘

He wrote, ‘Then due to acute shortage of kits, not every government (including Delhi government) floated tender for PPE kits and went for direct purchase. Have the courage to have all the facts Don’t show half of the document, dare to have all the facts. Sharma also accused Sisodia of not helping the people of Assam in Delhi when the Covid pandemic was at its peak. Assam government denies allegations of corruption

Earlier in the day, Assam government spokesperson Pijush Hazarika denied allegations that Chief Minister Sharma’s family was involved in alleged corruption in the supply of PPE kits during the pandemic. Hazarika said that there was no scam in the supply of PPE kits and no member of the Chief Minister’s family was involved in the supply of any material related to the COVID epidemic. State Water Resources and Information and Public Relations Minister Hazarika told reporters in Guwahati , ” The allegations are false , fictitious , malicious and can be termed as the handiwork of a certain section of vested interests . ,