Minister sacked in Bihar

PATNA, Nov 16 (PTI) — An unprecedented controversy erupted in Bihar with Governor Suraj Bhan today sacking Rakesh Kumar, a member of Rabri Devi ministry, for being under age just a couple of days before he would have ceased to be a minister for not being a member of the state legislature.

Mr Bhan told a crowded press conference that he had also ordered institution of a case of forgery, misrepresentation, false declaration and fraud against Kumar, alias Samrat Choudhary.

Kumar was inducted into the ministry on May 19 last after his mother along with some other Samta Party MLAs switched loyalty to the ruling RJD and subsequently his father and former MP Shakuni Choudhury also changed sides.

Reacting to the Governor’s decision, Chief Minister Rabri Devi said she had sought documents on which the decision was based and would then seek legal opinion while her husband and RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said the Governor had acted under pressure of some top Samata leaders who wanted to take revenge against Mr Choudhury.

As a controversy arose over Kumar’s age, Bhan’s predecessor Justice B.M. Lal asked Chief Electoral Officer A.K. Basu to conduct an inquiry.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi today said she would request Governor Suraj Bhan to furnish the documents that formed the basis for the dismissal of a member of her Cabinet, Rakesh Kumar alias, Samrat Choudhury, before seeking legal opinion on the matter.

"I will write a letter to the Governor seeking to know the facts and circumstances that forced the latter to sack Rakesh before taking legal opinion," Rabri Devi told newsmen.

Stating that she was not informed by the Governor as to what prompted him to take such an extreme step without taking advice, the Chief Minister said, "Even when I called on him at Raj Bhavan last evening, no documents were brought forth by the Governor in this connection".

Asked whether the Governor’s action was "under pressure from any quarters", she said "Let me have the documents from Raj Bhavan".

She said Rakesh’s term as a minister was to expire on November 19, 1999, as he was not a member of either of the state legislature even after six months of his induction into her Cabinet.

Rabri Devi confirmed that she had received the letter of the governor in which he had said "Rakesh ceases to be a minister with immediate effect".

The Governor, in a 21-page notification, had directed institution of a case of forgery, false declaration and fraud against Rakesh Kumar and recovery of the pay and allowances paid to him during his tenure as minister.

RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav today flayed Bihar Governor Suraj Bhan for sacking Rakesh Kumar, alias Samrat Choudhary, a member of the Rabri Devi ministry, and charged him with acting "under pressure from top Samata leaders".

"The Governor’s action smacks of political vendetta. It seems to have been taken under pressure from Samata high-ups to avenge Rakesh’s father and former MP, Shakuni Chaudhury’s switching over to the ruling party," Mr Yadav told reporters here.

Describing the decision as "a wrong precedent", the RJD chief said the Governor should have taken the advice of the Chief Minister before "arriving at any conclusion".

"There are set norms in a democracy. The voters’ list in which Rakesh is claimed to be more than 25 years has the validity to justify the age," he said.

"Any dispute over one’s age should be decided by a court of law and not by any individual," Mr Yadav said, adding that no suggestions were taken by the Governor before sacking the minister.

He said the Chief Minister should have been apprised of the facts and circumstances in this connection.

The former Chief Minister said a well-planned conspiracy had been hatched to "demoralise" the state government "and we will give a fitting reply to those behind such machinations".