NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “complete hypocrisy” over Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu continuing in office despite a Supreme Court-ordered CBI inquiry into contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore allegedly awarded to his family members when he was the state’s PWD minister.Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said Khandu should have resigned or been asked to step down, alleging that the matter was another instance of corruption being allowed to flourish.“But both the CM and his Supreme Leader the PM decided to brazen it out,” Ramesh said in a post on X.According to Ramesh, the Supreme Court on April 6 ordered a CBI inquiry into contracts worth Rs 1,270 crore that Khandu allegedly awarded to his family members while serving as Arunachal Pradesh’s PWD minister between 2015 and 2025.Ramesh said the Supreme Court’s directive had come as a surprise to the Modi government.The Congress leader further claimed that the Supreme Court summoned senior Arunachal Pradesh government officials on August 3 after the CBI complained that the state government was not cooperating with the inquiry.“The CM (who has continued as PWD minister) was denying access to the relevant files. The HM was reportedly taken aback by the CBI’s new-found courage,” Ramesh said.Ramesh said the Supreme Court, on August 24, observed that instead of providing the relevant documents, the state government had supplied “huge chunks of documents” to the CBI.“It is extraordinary and totally unacceptable that the CM continues in office. This shows the complete hypocrisy of the PM,” he said.Ramesh also accused the PM of following a contradictory approach to corruption, referring to Modi’s repeated assertion that “Na khaunga, na khane dunga”.“Yet another example of ‘khaya hai, khane diya hai aur khilwaya bhi hai’,” the Congress leader said.Ramesh said the next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 25.
