Prakash Jha-Opposition row not to "die down" easily

Patna, July 19 (UNI) The Opposition in Bihar continued with its ''combative'' posture against noted film director Prakash Jha.

The Opposition summed up as contempt of court issuance of legal notices to Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Rabri Devi, state Congress chief spokesperson Prem Chandra Mishra and others by Mr Jha on the matter of procurement of land at ''throwaway'' prices by the latter.

Besides, Ms Rabri Devi and Prem Chandra Mishra, Mr Jha had issued legal notices yesterday to state Samata Party president P K Sinha and the resident editors of a few Hindi and English dailies for their remarks on news stories that he was successful in procuring land at ''throwaway'' prices for establishing multiplexes here due to his ''close proximity'' to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Mr Jha had issued notices to the said groups of people through his advocate Jashawir Singh Arora.

RJD general secretary Shyam Rajak, Mr Mishra and Mr Sinha told newspersons here that the film maker issued notices with a view to ''intimidating'' them, contending that Mr Jha's action betrayed a ''staggering contempt'' for Patna High Court as Mr Mishra had already filed a public interest litigation petition in the said court praying for a CBI probe into the issue.

'' Issuance of legal notice is an attempt to deny his fundamental right of pursuing the matter in the High Court, '' the Congress leader emphasised.

The Opposition leaders alleged that Mr Jha was alloted plots of the land at very cheap prices and the government flouted all rules and regulations and even did not care to invite tenders for this purpose. They argued that it was incumbent upon Mr Jha to present his side before the High Court before issuing legal notices to them.

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