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Congress demands probe in Haj tender deal

NEW DELHI: The Congress has demanded a joint parliamentary committee or a CBI probe into the Centre's decision to give MIDOS, a private firm, the contract to ferry Haj pilgrims, apprehending the Vajpayee-led government has received huge kickbacks in the deal.

Congress spokesman Ajit Jogi told newsmen that civil aviation authorities, throughout 1999, tried to avoid global tenders from being floated for the deal on one pretext or the other. But when the tenders were floated ultimately, it was ensured that the other five bids got rejected and the deal was awarded to MIDOS.

He said; "the entire deal is suspicious as huge kickbacks have been paid to clinch the deal." He also said the other five bids were rejected on flimsy technical grounds, without giving the firms involved an opportunity to elaborate their views.

Alleging some senior Civil Aviation Ministry officials and the Prime Minister's office are involved in the Rs 17-20 crores kickbacks, he said the Central Vigilance Commission should look into the matter as its guidelines concerning the tender process were grossly violated. "Our information is that an extra-constitutional authority in the Prime Minister's Office is involved in the deal," he said.

A large number of intending pilgrims demonstrated here on January 17 to protest against the cancellation of their trip to Makkah despite the fact they have completed all the social, religious and administrative formalities, Jogi said.ÑAPP