AGARTALA / SONAMURA, November 1 (TIWN): After almost five months since the then Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury and Director Audit informed Chief Secretary and CMO office(on 19/05/2014), Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Friday broke his silence over the Rs 50 crore MGNREGA scam in Bishalgarh R D Block. Chief Minister said ," Whoever is guilty will be punished. The opposition is busy in miscampaign against the state govt." Interestingly only on 27th October two separate PILs were filed in the High Court by Congress and Trinamool demanding CBI investigation and soon after returning from Central Committee meeting in Delhi, Manik Sarkar too has smelt the rat and that might be the reason for him to break the silence. Chief Minister was addressing in the inaugural programme of Motor Stand at Sonamura on Friday. This delayed break of silence also due to pressure from CPIM Central Committee instructing Manik Sarkar to make his stand clear in public.

 First of all look at the highlights of Manik Sarkar's speech:

1) Investigation is being done by Block, R D Department and police

2) Police arrested the main accused in Bishalgarh R D Block scam

3) If investigation is completed punishment will be given if any one is proved guilty

4) Oppositions are now making scandals against the state govt on this issue.

Interestingly Manik Sarkar has not mentioned the name of scamstar BDO Bimal Chakraborty as the prime accused. All is aware of the fact that Manik Sarkar did his best to hide the MGNREGA scam as the allegations were raised against his favoured BDO. Being the Godfather of Bimal, he probably left no stone unturned. Somehow through RTI the Internal Audit Report got leaked and a section of Melarmath too leaked the truth before the media. What remains still unanswered is why did Chief Minister remain silent during the last five months?

Other questions that also to be raised are:

1) Is he hesitating to utter the name of his most trusted TCS officer Bimal?

2) Why was the efficient Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury removed from this department in less than a week after the submission of IAR?

3) Why is Chief Minister's police not include the Section ' Prevention of Corruption Act' in MGNREGA scam?

4) Why was the honest Director, Audit transferred to SIPARD and replaced by his “chamcha” ?

5) Why did his police give the scope to Bimal Chakraborty to present the ' high voltage' surrender drama and that too on a day when the court was on holiday for Diwali ?

6) Why did Manik Sarkar not instruct his police to make immediate arrest even after getting the proof that Bimal Chakraborty was involved in misappropriation?

      Now as the CM had ultimately broken his silence, it also gives some serious doubts in the minds of the people. After his statements in Sonamura on Friday the following questions will definitely arise:

1) Has the Central Committee instructed Manik Sarkar to make his clear stand in public?

2) Has he realized that his fabricated reputation of ' Honesty & Clean' is being brutally damaged beyond repair?

3) Is Manik Sarkar scared about the most likely CBI probe?

4) Has he smelt that a major section in the party is ready to revolt against him due to his silence over corruption issues?

5) Has Manik Sarkar felt that his ultimate authority in the party is too trembling?

6) Has the Chief Minister too weary of West Bengal and Kerala like debacle in Tripura?

7) Is he trying to divert the attention of the public from the Bimal Chakraborty issue?

8) Is there any ominous sign revealed after Bhanu Lal Saha's statement on Papai Saha murder case?

9) Is Manik Sarkar feeling that if Sitaram Yechury becomes the next General Secretary of CPI(M) his influence in national politics (though limited in his party) will be badly crippled?

10) Is the Friday's statement a signal that now to save his party leaders the entire blame will be put on Bimal Chakraborty?

      Speaking to TIWN over phone late on Friday night a top level CPI(M) party leader, who is also in the Think Tank of the party said,” Well wait a few days more. The next one year or so will be a tough one for Manik Sarkar. This time he won't get full support from the state wings especially after what he did with Badal and Jiten. Both the leaders are known for their dynamism. And if opportunity comes, their group won't lose time to bounce back. “