Patna: Ruling JD(U) in Bihar has accused RJD leader Lalu Prasad of "masterminding" the chaotic scenes by opposition members in the two houses of the assembly as part of a "design to mislead and fool" the people.
Condemning the chaotic scenes created by opposition members in the state assembly and council since Tuesday, JD(U) national spokesman Shivanand Tiwari accused Prasad of "masterminding" the events in his determined bid to " mislead and fool" the people.
" Lalu is an epitome of corruption.. his name is synonymous with corruption and thus everywhere he sees corruption", Tiwari told a press conference here.
He alleged that Prasad who had remained in power in Bihar for 15 years and at the Centre for five years had become " desperate" and was attempting to tarnish the image of the Nitish Kumar government.
Castigating Prasad for equating the non-reconciliation of Abstract Contingent bills with the multi-crore rupees fodder scam, Tiwari said they were totally different.
" Fodder scam related to fraudulent withdrawal of crores from the state treasuries on the basis of the CAG report which had also highlighted that fodder for cattle were transported on trucks bearing the registration numbers of scooters", he said.
But in the present case, the CAG had not spoken about the case being " fraudulent in nature and has suggested that the state government should take effective action towards reconciliation of the AC bills.
In the instant case, the CAG had highlighted that a sum of Rs 11,412 crore drawn through Abstract Contingent bills be reconciled by way of submission of Detailed Contingent (DC) bills (vouchers) towards utilisation of the money, he claimed.
" The process for submission of DC bills has begun and lot many Drawing and Disbursing Officers have submitted the vouchers to the Accountant General for reconciliation", he said "Therefore, there is no no case of irregularities and scam in the present case as a similar position exists in other states", Tiwari said.
"The Public Accounts Committee headed by a senior RJD MLA in the state assembly is still looking into the CAG report and has asked the officials to expedite the submission of the DC bills at the earliest and in the given circumstances, no no case of an inquiry by a third party is constitutionally valid", he said.
Tiwari said the state government had gone in an appeal in the high court seeking modification of its order on the probe by a third agency.
