BHOPAL: Vyapam whistle-blower Ashish Chaturvedi has sent a fresh complaint to the chief vigilance officer of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) alleging that a China-linked company has been given security clearance for making next-generation passports. He has also pointed out that the entire proceedings were done in defiance of the CVC guidelines.
In 2019, he had alerted MEA and Prime Minister Narendra Modis office besides vigilance and intelligence agencies with a complaint alleging that a France-based company that has responded to tenders for next-generation passports has close ties with Pakistan. MEA had invited RPF for “electronic contact-less inlays along with its operating system required for manufacture of Indian e-passports."
In the new complaint, Chaturvedi claims serious violation of tender process and conditions alleging companies having links with Pakistan and China have got the security clearances for the project.
As per Section IX of the eligibility criteria of the Global tender employees and/or the bidders having operation/ownership in Pakistan/China were supposed to embargo from participation in the tenders.
Similarly, Annexure II of the Domestic tender lays down the similar condition for the bidders. Contrary to this express provision of the respective tender(s) itself, bidders were allowed to participate and shockingly, got necessary security clearance.
“Their participation in the tender despite unambiguous tender conditions is a blatant violation of tender process and conditions,” he wrote.
“The bidder has been given the security clearance for the Global bid even though as per its website, it has operations in Karachi, Pakistan and is presently dealing with the Government of Pakistan in issuance of passports to its citizens. UIDAI had issued an advisory for suspending products from the same company due to security issues. It had to issue a public apology admitting breach in the Aadhar database. Noticing the serious cyber security threats, Estonian police have sought damages from the company in a project for issuing Citizen Cards,” Chaturvedi added.
Similarly, a company owned by Chinese government was allowed to participate in the Domestic tender giving the security clearance. “In the present situation, when our country has been facing challenges on western and eastern borders, such kind of participation will certainly raise another risk for national security,” he wrote.
He further claims that higher prices may result into loss of estimated Rs 50 crore. “The present tender for Global bid was issued in 2014 and Domestic bid in 2016. The bidders have quoted their bids as per the technology available, commercial terms of that year. It is well known fact that with the advancement of technology, the price of that technology falls and becomes more reasonable. e.g mobile call rates. Even, now after COVID 19, when demand is very weak, the rates have further slashed and may continue to have a downward trajectory. It also needs a considerate thought that since newer and improved technology has been introduced, a bid at the present market scenario would essentially be much lower than the bid in the year 2014-16. In such circumstances, the decision to proceed with the 6/4 year old bid s itself requires a sincere contemplation,” claims the complainant.
This, according to Chaturvedi, is also against current policies of Indian government. “As the Government of India has been putting its entire weight towards making our country an “Atmanirbhar” country by promoting domestic products and giving preferences to Indian manufacturing units,” he said.
In order to ensure the transparency and reasonableness in the tender process, CVC issues circulars from time to time.
“This tender violates Read More – Source
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