By IANS,
Patna : The opposition created an uproar in the Bihar assembly Tuesday over the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the multi-crore excise scam.
The opposition, on the second day of the month-long budget session of the Bihar assembly, raised slogans for a CBI probe into the scam that forced assembly speaker Udai Narayan Choudhry to adjourn the state assembly till noon.
Some opposition members neared the speker’s podium and raised slogans against the state government led by Nitish Kumar.
Opposition members announced they would march to the governor’s house to submit a memorandum demanding a CBI probe into the scam.
Last week Bihar Excise Minister Jamshed Ashraf was sacked after he alleged there was a “multi-crore scam” in his department that involved people in the chief minister’s secretariat.
Ashraf created a storm nearly two weeks ago when he spoke of a Rs.500 crore fraud in the excise department, with alleged connivance of senior bureaucrats.
He also questioned Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s “silence” on the issue, claiming he had shot off letters to him and Chief Secretary Anup Mukherjee asking for a probe into the graft. He also threatened to reveal more on a public platform in the coming days.
Last week Nitish Kumar rejected the opposition demand for a CBI probe into the scam.
Nitish Kumar brushed aside the charges by Ashraf stating that nobody could influence or purchase him.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Patna High Court seeking a probe by the CBI into the alleged excise scam.