NDA to seek time from PM to raise jobs for land scam in Railways

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Accusing Railway Minister Lalu Prasad of misusing his official position for introducing the 'primitive concept' of barter system in the governance and amass land in return for jobs in the Railways, the BJP today said the NDA leaders would seek time from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Addressing a joint press conference, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley and Bihar Janata Dal (United) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the unearthing of evidence has brought up clear cases of allegations of doling out jobs in return for the lands from the beneficiaries. The mode of payment on the transfer of land is not on records and not a single case was there where money was paid through cheque.

Mr Prasad had not denied the allegations made against him but had contended that he had shown these in the records submitted to the Income Tax authorities and Lok Sabha Secretariat. He should know that by disclosure of stolen property, one can't wipe out the offence of bribery or theft, the leaders said.

The job beneficiaries were basically from Danapur area and they had parted with their lands to the family members of the Railway Minister. The Minister appeared to be have adopted 'secular approach' in corruption because Yadavs of Danapur and Union Ministers Raghunath Jha and Ms Kanti Singh had all 'gifted' their properties to the Railway Minister and his family.

They said the Prevention of Corruption Act was very clear and the evidence that had been unearthed can attract the provisions under 'quid-pro-quo' deal as if public servant receives anything other than legal remuneration it will be presumed that he got it for unlawful purposes.

The NDA, they said, would take the issue to the logical end and could think of actions beyond meeting the Prime Minister.

Mr Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the Railway Minister cannot claim that it was mere coincidence that those who transferred their lands to his family had got the jobs in the Railways.

He said there should be an independent inquiry into the allegations, he said.

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