Jharkhand parties demand Nitish formula to fight corruption
By IANSFriday, December 10, 2010
RANCHI - With more than 1,200 officials, a former chief minister and three former ministers facing graft charges in Jharkhand, political parties in the state have demanded that the government adopt the formula of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to fight corruption.
Nitish Kumar Wednesday said it would be made mandatory that each legislator, minister and official in Bihar should declare assets held every year.
Jharkhand has of late earned a bad name due to prevailing corruption. Former chief minister Madhu Koda, and three former ministers - Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Kamlesh Singh are in jail in graft cases. Besides, more than 1,200 officials are facing graft cases.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the Nitish government’s decision on asset declaration by public servants and political leaders.
“We welcome the Nitish Kumar government decision regarding declaration of assets. In Jharkhand, the government should formulate a law regarding declaration of assets every year and it should bring the panchayat heads, legislators, ministers and officials under its ambit. We will raise the issue in the party to put pressure on the government regarding formulation of such a law,” a BJP leader told IANS.
Pradeep Kumar, legislative party leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P), told IANS: “Our party is dedicated to fighting corruption. We will raise the issue of declaration of assets of each legislator, minister and official every year in the assembly session.”
The Congress echoed the demand.
“If we have to uproot corruption, we should start taking measures to fight corruption. The declaration of assets by ministers and officials will be a primary step in fighting corruption and the Congress will support the government if it wants to legislate any such law,” Radha Krishna Kishore, Jharkhand Congress spokesperson, told IANS.
