JD-U MLC seeks probe into Nitish’s assets
In a move that is bound to kick up a storm in JD (U) circles, party MLC Sambhu Sharan Srivastawa demanded a probe by the Central Vigilance Commissioner into the assets and sources of income of CM Nitish Kumar.
In a move that is bound to kick up a storm in JD (U) circles, party MLC Sambhu Sharan Srivastawa on Tuesday demanded a probe by the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) into the assets and sources of income of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his coterie of politicians and bureaucrats.
Alleging autocratic behaviour by the CM, he warned that the way Kumar demeaned workers at Rajgir for raising their voice against corruption, it may spell doom not only for the party but also for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). “The government instead of course correction has taken dictatorial route. It’s an undeclared emergency,” he alleged.
Srivastava, who was recently removed from the post of the party’s national spokesperson for criticising the State Government on corruption front, told mediaperson that, “Kumar no more holds Mr Clean image. He is the CM of corrupt machinery. The CM and his coterie should file an affidavit before the CVC about their assets.”
He alleged that corruption had reached its zenith in the present regime. “No work is done without cut money. Earlier, parivis mattered but no more. Bureaucracy is minting money. They are amassing assets and even investing outside the State,” he alleged.
Continuing his attack on prevailing corruption and red-tapism in government departments, Srivastawa said that this was one reason why investment proposals were not seeing the light of the day. “Its surprising that the state has an annual budget of Rs 13,500 crore but many projects are on paper only,” he said.
He also expressed surprise over the manner in which he was removed from the party post without a showcause and the CM’s utterances that some people had become greedy for post. “I never demanded a ministerial berth though I definitely wanted to reach Parliament,” he said in his defence.