J P Yadav sidesteps BJP criticism against his induction

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Mr J P Yadav, reinducted as Minister of State for Water Resources, today sidestepped BJP criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for failure to resist the pressures of the RJD to persist in having him in the Council of Ministers despite two pending cases against him.

Mr Yadav, who took charge as the MOS Water Resources for the second time in the present Lok Sabha tenure, said he would not react to the accusation at a stage when it was time to celeberate his reinduction. "I have nothing to say on the issue and the government is capable of dealing with the situation" was his reaction when asked if the issue would not vitiate the atmosphere in the Parliament. Mr Yadav had to quit the post during the last Bihar Assembly elections for pressurising the administration to let off his brother who was arrested for electoral malpractices.

Mr Yadav said he was thankful for UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi for giving an opportunity to work in the ministry which was near and dear to him, as a ground level worker. "I would like to work for flood control, irrigation to benefit people of the country", he said. BJP Spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said that while the UPA which was priding itself as having brought in Mr A K Antony, a person with impeccable integrity as the Defence Minister, it was unfortunate that the PM was unable to tell the RJD that it should nominate some other candidate who is not facing any case.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu criticised the PM for reinducting Mr Yadav giving a clear message to the country that the UPA had 'scant regard' for probity in public life.

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