New Delhi: The main opposition party, Congress, has demanded the sacking of Bachu Bhai Khabad, Minister of State for Panchayats and Agriculture, alleging his involvement in the Gujarat MGNREGA scam. The party has also called for a court-monitored CBI inquiry into the matter.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters at Indira Bhawan, party MP Shaktisinh Gohil presented documents and details of the alleged scam, stating that “the minister and his family have embezzled crores of rupees through fake work orders under MGNREGA.”

Gohil alleged that several fake work orders were issued under MGNREGA for private land owned by Minister Bachu Bhai Khabad. These orders cited works such as stormwater drains, dams, canals, land leveling, and plantations—none of which were actually executed. “Even renovation work that was never undertaken was falsely shown,” he said.

He further claimed that Raj Construction, a company owned by Khabad’s son Balwant Khabad, was awarded contracts to supply materials under MGNREGA. However, no materials were supplied. In a single block, 2,235 work orders were issued, crores of rupees were paid, but the work remained only on paper. Gohil also alleged that Raj Construction took payments worth crores but failed to pay GST.

The Congress leader stated that when minor allegations are made against Congress leaders, the ED and CBI act immediately. Yet, despite substantial evidence in this case, no action is being taken against the BJP minister. He demanded that Bachu Bhai Khabad be immediately removed from his position and that the entire matter be probed by the CBI under court supervision. He also urged the Union Finance Ministry to initiate action into the alleged GST evasion.

Additionally, Gohil linked the collapse of the Mujpura-Gambhira bridge over the Mahisagar River near Vadodara to alleged corruption under the BJP-led government. He pointed out that ten people were killed and several others injured in the incident. According to him, local residents and former Zilla Parishad members had already warned authorities about the poor condition of the bridge, but no preventive measures were taken. He claimed that corruption affected the renovation contract for the bridge and alleged that contractors are required to pay commissions to BJP offices to secure work. “Due to this corrupt system, contractors neglect their responsibilities, which has led to repeated accidents in Gujarat in recent months,” he said. DeshGujarat