Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday alleged that the slogan “na khaunga na khane dunga” had proven to be a “complete hoax,” linking his charge to the Supreme Court of India’s direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation to initiate a preliminary inquiry into contracts allegedly awarded to family members of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.
“This is just the beginning,” Ramesh said, suggesting that similar issues could surface in other states. “Kai anya rajyon mein bhi aise hi mamle hain, jahan parivar ke logon ko fayda pahunchaya gaya hai,” he claimed, adding that at least one chief minister from the Northeast could soon come under scrutiny.
The Supreme Court’s order comes amid allegations of conflict of interest and misuse of office in the awarding of public contracts. While the court has not passed any final judgment on the matter, it found sufficient grounds to direct a preliminary probe by the CBI, a step that could potentially lead to a full-scale investigation depending on the findings.
Ramesh argued that the development exposes a deeper governance issue. Referring to the anti-corruption plank often highlighted in political discourse, he said, “Yeh naara sirf ek jumla ban kar reh gaya hai. Ab dheere-dheere sach saamne aa raha hai.”
The remarks have intensified the political exchange between the opposition and the ruling establishment, with the latter maintaining that the inquiry is at an initial stage and cautioning against drawing sweeping conclusions.
Legal experts point out that a preliminary inquiry by the CBI is meant to determine whether there is enough evidence to register a formal case. “Is stage par kisi ko doshi thehrana theek nahi hoga. Inquiry ke baad hi tasveer saaf hogi,” a legal analyst noted.
As the investigation process begins, the issue is expected to remain politically charged, with opposition leaders pressing for accountability while the government underscores the importance of institutional procedure and evidence-based conclusions.
Government sources also emphasized that due process must be allowed to take its course before any allegations are treated as established facts.
