Cong takes on BJP: Reveal ex-CM, Ministers' assets

Vijay Deo Jha RANCHI Wednesday, July 9, 2008

It may sound interesting Jharkhand Congress moving BJP way supporting its demand of a CBI inquiry of the alleged disproportionate properties of the Ministers of the State. But conditions apply!

Congress has asked two former Chief Ministers - BJP leader Arjun Munda and JVM chief Babulal Marandi - to declare their properties along with their former Ministerial colleagues before they start an agitation on this count.

While demanding this Pradeep Balmuchu, State Congress president, also asked them to reveal names of the corrupt Ministers of their regime and actions taken therein. Taking a dig at BJP and JVM for harbouring and maximising corruption Balmuchu said that NDA rule was the genesis of it which was added and abetted by Madhu Koda and his , ministerial colleagues.

"Congress in the past has already demand a through out inquiry of the properties of the Ministers of the State and asked Koda to lie bare the facts before the public", Balmuchu said.

"We are always ready to support any move if it involves the larger interest of the State but the party expects Munda and Marandi to reveal the misdeeds of these Ministers, things could have been different if NDA could have taken strong action against them, they were equally corrupt when they were Ministers of Munda's Cabinet", charges Balmuchu.

However, both Munda and Marandi publicly have no problem if their own regimes are too brought under investigation. But the two specific demands are taken as an attempt of the party to prove administrative and political inefficiency of the duo in checking corruption during their regime.

The open challenging demands of Congress might force BJP and JVM on backfoot since issue is sure to open a pandora box. Party hopes to unfold a dozen of dirty liana As the issue of the alleged properties of the State is soon going to be snow balled in to a major political agitation as the in a meeting of the core committee of the BJP the party has decided force Koda Government to institute a CBI inquiry in the whole matter.

Party has proposed an agitation starting from July 19 when it would form a human chain from State Assembly to Governor House while JVM its intention to hold State-wide agitation on this issue from July 14. Reacting over it Munda accused Congress for hopping with a ridiculous demand resulting from the repeated failure of the party against Koda Government.

Being the part of the Government Congress is free to investigate the property of BJP leaders on its own.