Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Dec 2: As the state inches closer to polls, another minister tendered his resignation following his indictment by Lokayukta on Thursday.
The minister Ratan Lal Ahirwar held Ambedar Village Development portfolio with independent charge. Ahirwar belongs to dalit community and represents Babina in Jhansi distrit.
Chief Minister (CM) Mayawati who is facing troubles due to her erring minister asked Ahirwar to submit his resignation. Till now five ministers have to relinquish their post after their indictment by Lokayukta.
Till now Higher Secondary Minister Rangnath Mishra, Labour Minister Badshah Singh, Minister of State with independent charge of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Awadhpal Singh Yadav and Minister of State with Independent charge of Religious Endowment Rajesh Tripathi have resigned due to Lokayukta report.
The case against Ahirwar included, misusing his local area development fund and encroaching on village land. in 2004 Rs 9.56 lakh was given to Dr Ambedkar Junior High School in Punawali in Babina tehsil of Jhansi district from Bundelkhand Area Development Fund. Besides the minister gave Rs 29.76 lakh from his Local Area Development fund to Gyandevi Ganga Inter College managed by a trust run by his close relatives. The allegation that the college building which included a hostel and science lab was constructed illegally on gram samaj land, was found true.
The Lokayukta also sought recovery of funds allocated to a school run by his trust. The Lokayukta Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra also recommended action against officials including then divisional commissioner of Jhansi Sobaran Singh Yadav, who had released funds to the school.
Meanwhile the main opposition party of the state, Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday demanded resignation of Chief Minister (CM) Mayawati following the resignation of Ambedkar Village Development minister Ratan Lal Ahirwar from the government.
The party also raised fingers over the silence of Rajbhawan for turning a Nelson's eye towards the misdeeds and corrupt practices of ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
"The days of BSP government are numbered. They are thick skinned and are sticking to the chair despite more than half a dozen being forced to resign after their indictment by Lokaykta," said state spokesperson, Rajendra Choudhary.
The SP leader claimed that CM Mayawati is neck deep corruption and will go down in the history as the most corrupt CM of the state. "In the end she has to go to jail for her misdeeds. She is just buying time. We demand from the state governor to dismiss her so that further harm to the state can be prevented," he said.