Patna: Apparently hinting at prevalence
of corruption in the ruling class, the dissident JD(U) Rajya
Sabha MP Upendra Prasad Kushwaha on Sunday asked the ministers in
the NDA government in Bihar to explain the sources of their
assets.
The ministers in the NDA government should try to come
clean on their properties and assets by explaining its
sources, he told reporters here and added that he would take
the initiative in this regard by explaining the sources of his
assets on February 2.
Kushwaha, who was facing disciplinary action from his
party - JD(U) - for alleged anti-party activities during last
year`s assembly polls, said that the declaration of the assets
by the ministers of the NDA government on the direction of the
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was not sufficient as the public
wanted to know the sources of their assets.
The state government`s crusade against corruption will
not make headway if the politicians, including ministers,
failed to explain the sources of their wealth, the dissident
JD(U) leader said.
Kushwaha charged the JD(U) leadership of adopting
different yardstick for seeking investigation into the assets
of the ministers from the party quota and said that the ruling
party should follow a consistent policy if it wanted the drive
against the corruption to succeed.
Referring to the ongoing disciplinary process underway
against him, the rebel JD(U) leader said that he had already
replied in writing to the show cause notice to the party`s
national president Sharad Yadav and the state unit president
Vashishth Narayan Singh and if need be he was ready to appear
before the party leadership.
Kushwaha, however, ruled out making an appearance
before the disciplinary committee in connection with a show
cause notice served on him for anti-party activities and said
such a committee had no power to sit on judgement in his
case as he was a member of the national executive, besides
being an MP.
On his future course of action, the rebel JD(U) leader
said that he would like to remain with the party.
PTI
