Rai demands CM be brought under purview of Lokayukta

Jamshedpur, Aug 20: Senior BJP leader Saryu Rai today (Aug 20) strongly favoured that the Chief Minister of Jharkhand should be brought under the purview of state Lokayukta and the vigilance department be included into it for smooth functioning.

Referring his demand for re-examination of renewal/fresh mining leases recommended during former former Chief Minister Madhu Koda regime, Rai said present Chief Minister Arjun Munda cannot initiate any action against Koda, even if he wished so, because the existing Lokayukta act did not permit a probe against the Chief Minister.

Koda was the chief minister and state mine minister when the mining scam had taken places, he claimed.

Advocating for an amendment in the Bihar Lokayukta Act,1973, he said though Munda himself agreed that the CM's post should be brought under the Lokayukta, the government will have to take a decision in this regard.

The amendment in the act should be in the light of provisions made in Anna Hazare-led Civil Society's "Jan Lokpal Bill," he said.

Rai appreciated Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for already making such announcement in the state.

Meanwhile, in a letter to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Union Minister of Mines recently, Rai demanded for re-examination of renewal and fresh mining leases recommended during the Koda regime.

PTI