By TCN Staff Reporter,
Patna: The issue of land allotment by the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) to the relatives of some leaders of the ruling alliance rocked the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Thursday also. The combined Opposition halted the proceedings of the monsoon session demanding CBI inquiry into the alleged land scandal and cancellation of the allotments immediately.
Today is the third consecutive day of protest by Opposition in the house after the issue came to light on Monday evening. Though under fire from media and Opposition, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the chief secretary to probe the matter, the Opposition insisted on CBI inquiry.
As the session was started on Wednesday, the determined members of Opposition parties stood and began raising anti-government slogans. Dissatisfied with probe by chief secretary, they wanted Nitish Kumar to ensure a CBI inquiry into the case. The house was adjourned several times and was unable to continue with proceedings. The opposition also protested at the main entrance of the house.
Despite this stormy situation in the house, the government reiterated its stand to get the matter inquired by the chief secretary (CS).
Later, leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said that their protest would continue until the Government accepts the demand for CBI inquiry. “It is a matter of concern that the government is adopting an escapist attitude on the serious issue of immoral allotment of land to the relatives of ruling alliance’s leaders” he said to media persons.
Giving the reason of dissatisfaction over chief secretary inquiry he said: “The scam in the excise department came to light in 2009. The then excise minister Jamshed Ashraf who exposed the scam in the department was forced to resign and the matter was referred to the chief secretary for inquiry. But no action was taken against the accused persons till the date” he added.
Meanwhile, Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan met President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil in Delhi on 20th July and demanded immediate dismissal of Nitish Kumar government in the wake of alleged land scandal.
Demanding CBI inquiry, he alleged that Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar is taking away farm lands from poor peasants in the name of development and gifting it to the members of ruling alliance.