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Patna,(BiharTimes): BJP MLA Vikram Kuer is causing more trouble to the Nitish Kumar government than perhaps even the opposition party MLAs. Last week he staged a walk out during Question Hour and on Wednesday he used unparliamentary language against the rural development minister, Nitish Mishra and state government. The Speaker, Uday Narayan Chaudhary, got the remarks expunged.
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Kuer alleged that about a dozen officials of the rural development department against whom probe has been carried for irregularities in Siwan district between 2001 and 2005 are being shielded by the state government. Though the minister Nitish Mishra assured that action would be taken in this regard the MLA was in no mood to relent.
The minister initially said that no action could be taken because the Vigilance Investigation Bureau has only submitted its interim report. But Vikram Kuer said that the probe has been ordered at the behest of the Patna High Court which asked it to complete it within five months. Now five years have passed and the government has taken no action against anyone. He wanted the minister to announce the deadline for action against those involved in the corruption.
Vikram Kuer went on to allege that the Vigilance Investigation Bureau and other officials had been applying pressure on him for not raising the issue in the state Assembly. “I have been receiving phone calls from them,” he shouted.
He said all this is happening when the chief minister Nitish Kumar is saying that action would be taken against the corrupt officials.
The minister and his colleagues were taken aback by this direct allegations from a ruling party MLA.
This prompted the Leader of Opposition, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, to intervene. He said that why no action could be taken on the basis of interim report, if the charges are serious. He sought distribution of copies of the interim report. Siddiqui also wanted to know the names of those who figure prominently in the interim report of the Vigilance.
Nitish Mishra then retorted that the issue of corruption was of the RJD days. Upon this Siddiqui said that the question is not that but why is it that the government is not taking action against those involved.
Political observers are of the view that Vikram Kuer is known for his outspokenness and had long association with the RJD chief Lalu Yadav and political bigwigs of Siwan of that time. He had joined the BJP only after he lost election on the RJD ticket in 2000.
But there is no dearth of leaders within the NDA who are asking some uncomfortable questions from the state government, especially on the issue of rampant corruption in the state.
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