Patna: Senior BJP MLA Ramadhar Singh, who
resigned from the Bihar government after reports surfaced of
him being declared an absconder by a court 16 years ago, was
on Friday re-inducted as a cabinet minister.
Governor Devanand Konwar administered the oath of office
and secrecy to Singh at a simple function at Rajbhavan in the
afternoon.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Speaker Uday Narain
Choudhary, Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi were among those
present at the function.
With Singh`s re-induction, the number of the ministers
in the Nitish Kumar-led-ministry rose to 29.
A case had been registered at Madanpur police station
against Singh over a "communal speech" he made in Aurangabad
district in 1992. He was declared an absconder by a court in
Aurangabad in May 1995 after he repeatedly failed to appear
before it in connection with the case.
Singh, who still faces the charges, resigned from the
Nitish Kumar Cabinet as Cooperative Minister on May 20 after a
hue and cry was raised over him being a part of the government
despite being declared an absconder. Chief Opposition RJD had
also petitioned the Governor requesting him to sack Singh.
Singh, a four-time BJP MLA from Aurangabad, surrendered
before court on May 26. The court had on June 3 granted his
application for regular bail.
PTI
