Kushwaha asks Nitish to order probe

Patna, Jan 13 (PTI) JD(U) General Secretary and RajyaSabha member Upendra Kushwaha today rubbished the charge ofcorruption against him levelled by his party leaders and askedChief Minister Nitish Kumar to order an inquiry into hisassets else he would sit on a day-long fast on January 24.

"The allegation of corruption levelled against me by someparty colleagues are bald and bad in taste.. I am ready for aprobe and Chief Minister should order it+, Kushwaha said here.

He said if Kumar would fail to order an inquiry into hiswealth, he would sit on fast on January 24 to press for thedemand.

Stung by criticism by his two party colleagues C P Sinhaand Niranjan Pappu, who had on January 11 alleged that hisassets had increased over the last few years, Kushwaha said hewas ready for a probe either by a central or stategovernment''s agency.

Kushwaha reiterated his demand for an impartial andindependent inquiry into the assets accumulated by stateministers, top leaders of the party and bureaucrats.

Kushwaha is not not on a good terms with Chief Ministerever since the party denied tickets to some of his close aidesduring the assembly elections in October-November last. PTIAJK RG