Mineral-rich Jharkhand, where several former ministers and a former chief minister are facing judicial trial for allegations of illegally amassing huge properties, the state Assembly on Monday agreed to a proposal that all the ministers and MLAs would declare details of their assets by March 31.
Questioned by the Opposition Congress MLA, Yogendra Sao, chief minister Arjun Munda first agreed to follow the shining Bihar example of having the state’s 12 ministers to declare their assets. Mr Sao asked Mr Munda if he and his ministers would like to make public the assets they own and when. Mr Munda agreed, though he had been evading reporters’ questions on the issue ever since his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar announced a similar move more than fortnight ago.
Speaker C.P. Singh then proposed that the move should not remain restricted to only ministers and that all the MLAs should also follow suit.