UP Lokayukta recommends removal of BSP minister

Recommending action against yet another member of the Mayawati govt, Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta has sought removal of Secondary Education Minister Rangnath Misra following a probe into disproportionate assets charges against him.

Lokayukta Justice N K Mehrotra, in his report sent to Chief Minister Mayawati yesterday, said the inquiry has found Misra guilty of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income as well as illegal possession of gram sabha land.

The Lokayukta said after submitting his report that he has recommended lodging of a case against the minister under the Prevention of Corruption Act and an inquiry either by CBI or Vigilance Department.

In another case against Misra, the Lokayukta has recommended punitive action against him in connection with the gram sabha land possession case.

Pending further action, Justice Mehrotra said he has recommended that the minister be removed from his post.

The complaint in this regard had been filed by an advocate from Bhadohi, Swami Prasad Misra.

Earlier, Avadhpal Singh Yadav had to resign as state's Animal Husbandry Minister in August following a similar recommendation by the Lokayukta in connection with corruption and criminal cases against him.

Rajesh Tripathi, Minister of State for Religious Endowment and Homeopathy, was sacked in December last on the Lokayukta's recommendations.

Tripathi was holding the post in his NGO along with his ministerial portfolio. Apart from this, he was charged with being involved in land grabbing cases.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have demanded immediate dismissal of Misra following Lokayukta's recommendations in this regard.

Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said the chief minister should immediately dismiss Misra as the Lokayukta had found him guilty of various charges.

"In fact one by one, the misdeeds of various ministers in the Mayawati government are being exposed," the SP spokesman said.

State unit president of BJP, Surya Pratap Shahi in Ballia said that Lokayukta's report has exposed corruption in the Mayawati government while spokesman Vijay Pathak said that Misra should be dismissed without delay.

"The Lokayukta's report has reiterated the BJP's contention about corruption at the highest level... The party has already submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil as well as Governor B L Joshi," Pathak said.

Congress spokesman Subhodh Srivastava said that not only Misra but all the other UP ministers who face such charges or have inquiries pending against them with the Lokayukta should be dismissed.