Periasamy dares IT Minister to reveal Bharatnet tender details 

Taking exception to Minister Udhayakumar’s clarification that allegations about irregularities in Bharatnet project tender were fictitious, former revenue minister and DMK deputy general secretary I Periasamy sought to know if the Minister has the courage to reveal the noting on the project files and details of the discussions held at Chief Minister, chief secretary, CM’s secretary and IT secretary about the project?

Criticising the Minister for claiming that the tender for the project was called for just now, Periasamy said the tender was floated as four packages on December 5, 2019 with January 20 being set as the closing date. Questioning if the pre-bid meeting was conducted or cancelled for the tender closing on January 20, the DMK deputy general secretary asked why did reports surface about IT secretary Santhosh Babu applying for voluntary retirement from service in the interim?

“Why was Tamil Nadu Fibernet Corporation managing director MS Shanmugham shunted to an insignificant post on January 27? If the tender was just floated, what has become of the previous one (DIPR/4685/Tender/2019)? Was the four-package tender opened on January 22 or not? Questions of such kind have arisen aplenty about Tamil Nadu Fibernet Corporation? Does the Minister have the courage to answer the questions?” the former revenue minister asked.

“Unable to answer them, the Minister has accused our leader of making baseless allegations. The Minister could claim that nothing had happened after successfully getting his secretary and managing director changed, but he should keep in mind that the files would reveal the truth not just now, but ever,” Periasamy remarked, before adding that the Bharatnet scam would emerge as the ninth corruption wonder of IT Department if the secrets were probed.