Corruption Watch

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<b>Why Laloo wants ‘criminals’ in the Cabinet</b>

Manoj Chaurasia in Patna

May 23. — Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s “inner voice” might have driven her to decline the most coveted post, but one of her most trusted allies, Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav’s “intuition” seems to be telling him that some of his tainted party MPs, charge-sheeted in criminal and corruption cases, should not have any problem in getting ministerial berths in the Congress-led dispensation.

Of the eight RJD MPs finding their place in the new ministry, three have several cases of crime and corruption pending against them. Md Taslimuddin is one such person who was dropped from Mr Deve Gowda’s ministry too for the same reason. The moot point, however, is why and on what grounds were they included in Dr Singh’s ministry? Also, why did Mr Yadav back their bids to become Union ministers, despite being aware of their bio-data and its possible political fallout? Observers cite three reasons.

The first is that the RJD chief may have been guided by the “precedent” set by Mr LK Advani and Miss Uma Bharati who continued in the Vajpayee Cabinet despite being charge-sheeted in the Babari Masjid demolition case. Another point to be noted is, Mr Yadav’s declaration that he would see to it that all pending cases against BJP ministers get opened afresh. However, the senior BJP leader from Bihar, Mr Sushil Kumar Modi, challenges the logic saying: “Neither of the two BJP leaders were chare-sheeted for any serious crime... they were mere political allegations.”

The second reason, observers say, is that Mr Yadav may have taken this decision on the basis of the people’s “verdict”. While Mr Yadav himself is charge-sheeted in some six cases of the fodder scam, Md Taslimuddin is an accused in nine cases of crime, including murder.

Mr MAA Fatami has been officially accused of patronising an active member of the Dawood gang, and Mr Jai Prakash Yadav was charge-sheeted in the B Ed exam scam. The last named had even been to jail after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court. However, as senior journalist Mr Surendra Kishore said: “Being a criminal does not seem to be a crime now for most politicians... Had it been so then the voters would not have voted for them.” And this exactly is the logic that might have influenced Mr Laloo Prasad to back the “criminals’ bid” for ministership at the Centre.

The final reason, pundits here point out, is that Mr Laloo Yadav appears to be in a serious mood to throw an open challenge to the Opposition parties demanding exclusion of “tainted” leaders from the Central ministry. And Mr Yadav is also set to play the “minority card” deftly to defend the tainted leaders’ “right” to get ministerial berths.

In the RJD chief’s calculation, any opposition to leaders from the minority community securing a berth in the Central Cabinet is bound to cause resentment among minority voters, which eventually will work to the RJD’s advantage in the near future. After all, Assembly polls are due in February.

<b>Tainted RJD ministers at Centre

n Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav: - Case Nos-RC 20 (A)/96, RC 38 (A)/96, RC 47 (A)/96, RC 63 (A)/96, RC 64 (A)/96, RC 68 (A)/96 and RC 5 (A)/96.

n Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav:-Munger RJD U/S 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, 477A, 109, 120 B of IPC. The allegations relate to giving temporary affiliation to a Muslim Minority Ahmadiya B Ed College even though it did not fulfil the basis conditions. He was the education minister in the Bihar government then.

n Md Taslimuddin:- a) Araria PS 19/82-144/188 IPC-violation of prohibitory order u/s 144 CrPC.
(b) Araria PS 133/82-309/34 IPC-attempt to commit suicide by hunger strike.
© Araria PS 53/85-147, 448, 323, 337, 426 IPC-to commit assault and mischief by framing unlawful assembly.
(d) Araria PS 40/86-341, 342, 323, 307, 504, 506, 379,34 IPC-assault, attempt to commit murder and snatching valuables by wrongful confinement.
(e) Araria PS 42/86-147, 148, 149, 307, 341, 353, 332, 504 IPC-attempt to commit murder and assault to public servant to deter him perform his duty by framing unlawful assembly.
(f) Araria PS 45/86-409, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120 B IPC-to commit cheating and possessing forged documents.
(g) Araria PS 375/96-147, 148, 149, 307 IPC, 27 Arms Act and ¾ Explosive Substance Act- attempt to commit murder by framing an unlawful assembly using firearms and explosives.
(h) Araria PS 83 C/87-500 IPC-defamation.
(i) Kishanganj 700c/98 u/s 147, 447, 323, 328, 327, 384, 109, 347, 379, 120 (B)/34 IPC-making unlawful assembly to commit theft, assault, mischief and extortion.
(The above report is based on affidavits filed by those candidates before the concerning returning officers.)

BJP MP from Bhagalpur Mr Sushil Kumar Modi today alleged Md Taslimuddin intentionally concealed the following seven cases . 1. Araria SST No 232/1996-related to rioting, kidnapping, attempt to murder and criminal intimidation. Cognisance taken on 4 April 1987.
2. Araria GR 172/1986-rioting, kidnapping, attempt to murder and criminal intimidation.
3. Araria GR 1639/96-rioting, armed with deadly weapon, and attempt to murder. Cognisance taken on 2 August 1999.
4. Araria GR 176/1986-attempt to murder.
5. Araria GR 335 u/s 420, 467, 468, 120-B IPC-cheating & forgery of valuable securities and criminal conspiracy.
6. Araria GR case No 655/1982-attempt to commit suicide. Congnizance taken on 15 September 1982.
7. Araria PS 133/82.
Mr Modi further alleged the Darbhanga RJD MP Mr MAA Fatami patronised a Dawood aide. </b>
www.thestatesman.net/page...1&id=43930