Patna: Opposition BJP on December 13 accused state government of suspending Commissioner of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) under “pressure” of builders and land mafias.
“An honest IAS officer has been suspended in a humiliating manner under pressure from builders and land mafias linked with ruling JD(U),” senior BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said in a statement reacting sharply to state government ordering suspension of PMC Commissioner Kuldip Narayan.
“When the Commissioner refused to surrender to pressure exerted by people in power, he has been punished for his honesty,” Sushil Modi, who is the leader of opposition in Legislative Council, said.
The BJP leader pointed fingers at former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
“PMC Commissioner has been suspended for initiating action against builders close to a legislator considered as right hand man of the former CM and Rajya Sabha member RCP Singh,” Sushil Modi alleged.
The state government had been looking for ways for last 18 months to remove Kuldip Narayan. The state government went even to Supreme Court but did not succeed, he said adding now they have suspended him on “frivolous” charges.
“In the last 25-30 years its for the first time that an IAS officer has been suspended on baseless charges,” Sushil Modi said.
Reports suggest that the state government suspended PMC Commissioner after finding his replies on six counts including failing to keep capital town clean, preventing outbreak of dengue and not purchasing fogging machine among others.
The Patna High Court had yesterday taken strong exception to reports of the state suspending the Commissioner of PMC when it had put a stay on it.
A division bench of Justice V N Sinha and Justice Prabhat Kumar Jha posted the matter for hearing on coming on December 15.
Sushil Modi appealed to IAS Association to strongly protest the “unconstitutional and tyrannical” approach.
IAS Association had last evening held a meeting over PMC Commissioner suspension and later met Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi.
