The Opposition Congress has latched on to ruling BJP MLA Shiladitya Dev’s allegation of rampant corruption in the panchayat and rural development department’s Hojai block to punch holes in Dispur’s claim of providing a corruption-free Assam.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi sought a CBI inquiry into the alleged largescale corruption in the implementation of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme in the state, citing Dev’s allegation that corruption was taking place in the state.

“Had we pointed out, they (BJP-led government) would have said we are playing politics. Dev being an important BJP legislator has himself said rampant corruption is going on,” Gogoi said, adding that coal syndicates are operating in the state.

“Sonowal is continuously saying that no corrupt person will be spared. But why no FIR has been registered by the government? We want a CBI inquiry. Why are they afraid if no BJP leader is involved?” Gogoi asked.

Congress’s Barpeta MP Abdul Khaleque also criticised the state government and tweeted: “People want @sarbanandsonwal’s reaction on allegations of @BJP4Assam MLA Shiladitya. Is it zero tolerance towards corruption?”

On allegations against Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi, agriculture minister Atul Bora had on Thursday admitted that some of the allegations were “not wrong” and attributed it to “oversight” as the beneficiary list was “prepared in a hurry” by officials of the department who were engaged in the NRC update process.

The allegations had prompted the Opposition Congress to write to the CBI to take suo motu cognisance and a farmers’ organisation urging it to lodge a complaint with the CID.

Assam PCC president and Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora wrote a letter to Modi on Thursday alleging “serious anomalies and manipulations” while selecting beneficiaries of the scheme.

A BJP source said the government was looking into allegations made by Dev.