Modi backs Anna's demand for right to recall

PATNA: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday supported Anna Hazare's demand for right to reject and recall the people's representatives on their failure to deliver, saying the demand has been made in the right spirit. It is similar to the appeal of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan during the 1974 movement to recall the people's representatives, he said.

Modi said RJD chief and former CM Lalu Prasad was opposing Anna Hazare's demand for Lokpal bill because he was himself involved in the fodder scam. He said Lalu has made disgraceful remarks against Hazare in the media which has sullied the image of the state. Modi said Lalu is disturbed because the bill will bring into its net corrupt persons.

He said MP Amar Singh, too, had made statements both inside and outside Parliament against Hazare and opposed his demand for right to recall as he was himself involved in the cash-for-vote scam. Modi criticized LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan for opposing Hazare's demand for right to reject and recall the people's representatives. This is unfortunate, he said while speaking to mediapersons at his Janata Durbar.

During the JP movement, people of Bihar had forced many legislators to resign from the state assembly, Modi said. He also urged the NDA members to oppose the privilege motion moved in Parliament against actor Om Puri and retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi.

Modi said officials of different departments urged him at the Janata Durbar that they should also be awarded for informing the vigilance department about the incidents of corruption which led to the exposure of the corrupt officials. He said he would direct the principal secretary, vigilance, to look into their claims for a suitable award.

Modi said the right to recall the people's representatives had found expression in Section 18(4) of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 1993, and Section 18(4) of the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 2006, which contained the provision of recalling the elected mukhiya from his post. He said in both the acts, there is a provision that one-fifth of the electorates of a panchayat can demand the recall of the mukhiya. Once a no-confidence motion is adopted against any mukhiya, the district panchayat raj officer will convene a special meeting of the panchayat members to discuss the issue within seven days, Modi said.