In the wake of widening probe by central agencies against the family members of Lalu Prasad, including his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has refused to join the RJD’s “political conspiracy” babble.
In fact, Kumar who is also the JD-U president, has reportedly said that those facing corruption charges should come clean by giving fact-wise reply to public.
Kumar while chairing JDU state executive meeting at his official residence of 1, Anne Marg is believed to have told his party colleagues. “What has been said so far may have satisfied your constituents, but it is inadequate to convince the public,” Kumar has reportedly told his party colleagues. “They should come out with fact-wise reply in public.”
Kumar also said that whenever there were allegations of corruption levelled against any JD-U leader, his party had taken “necessary action”.
“RJD will have to take action against its leader. It is for RJD to act against Tejashwi as he has been named in an FIR by the CBI,” Kumar reportedly said in the party meeting.
“JD-U’s strength lies in the goodwill that Nitishji has acquired by reviving development in Bihar. He will never compromise his stance of zero tolerance on corruption. The only thing which he has earned in his entire political career is a clean image and he will continue to maintain it come what may,” JD-U general secretary Sanjay Jha, a close aide of Nitish Kumar, said.
Tejashwi Yadav, along with his mother Rabri Devi, is among those named in the CBI FIR in connection to irregularities in awarding tenders for maintenance of hotels in Ranchi and Puri during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the Railway Minister. Other members of Lalu Prasad’s family are also facing corruption charges for illegally acquiring properties and lands in different parts of the country.
The RJD, on the other hand, ruled out the resignation of Tejashwi Yadav. “Why should Tejashwi resign? Has he indulged in any corruption in his Ministry? So why this talk of zero tolerance with corruption being raked up?” RJD chief whip Lalit Yadav told reporters.
Meanwhile, the BJP has sent fillers to Nitish Kumar. “Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai has said that the party is ready to provide outside support to JDU to form a government in the interest of the state, if Nitish Kumar decides to walk out of the Grand Alliance,” Bihar BJP vice-president Devesh Kumar said.
