Kamlesh Singh threatens to resign after detention drama

Jamshedpur, Aug 5 (UNI) Jharkhand Water Resources and Food Supply Minister Kamlesh Singh today threatened to quit the BJP-led Arjun Munda NDA ministry in the state after he was prevented from going to Delhi via Kolkata.

East Singhbhum Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajiv Ranjan stopped the vehicle of the minister here at mid-night and told him to return Ranchi immediately.

Infuriated by the act of the police, Mr Singh refused to return and halted in a government guest house here before moving for Ranchi this morning.

Talking to reporters before leaving for Ranchi, a visibly agitated minister said he would offer to resign from the ministry after reaching the state capital.

''How could one continue in a ministry when the chief minister had lost faith on his colleague and a cabinet rank minister is forced to forgo a trip to country's capital by the policemen,'' Mr Singh said.

Mr Singh said he would discuss with three ministers- Madhu Koda, Anos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai, who had already revolted against Mr Munda and submit his resignation to state Governor Syed Sibte Razi today.

Mr Singh, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA said the ministers were unhappy with Mr Munda's style of functioning and in such a situation it was difficult to continue as a minister.

With Mr Singh's threat to resign from the ministry, the crisis of the government has deepened further as three other ministers had already raised their voice against the Munda government and reportedly decided to join the UPA.

He was supposed to leave for Kolkata airport by a train from Tatanagar station on way to Delhi. But sniffing impending danger to his ministry, Chief minister Arjun Munda might have told the police to ensure his return to Ranchi, a close associate of Mr Singh said.

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