Under pressure from Opposition parties, Bihar Cooperative Minister and BJP leader Ramadhar Singh, declared an absconder by a court in Aurangabad district 16-years ago, has resigned from the Nitish Kumar cabinet.
Singh sent his resignation to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar late last night, officials at CM's office said today. Sources said Governor Devanand Konwar has accepted Singh's resignation and the Chief Minister has alloted the portfolio as an additional charge to his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi.
Speaking to reporters today, Singh said he resigned after he got the court records and related documents and found that he was declared an absconder in a case in May 1995 by a court in Aurangabad district.
"I decided to resign to avoid any embarrassment to NDA leaders Nitish Kumar and Sushil Kumar Modi as the opposition RJD raked up the issue," he said.
"I have full faith and respect for judiciary and I will soon surrender for appropriate legal remedy," he said.
Though he was declared absconder way back in 1995, Singh, a four-time BJP MLA from Aurangabad, claimed "he came to know about it only yesterday."
"Had my lawyer briefed me about the instant case, I would have surrendered in the case and obtained bail," he said. "I have been badly ditched by my lawyer in this connection," Singh said. A RJD delegation led by state party chief Ramchandra Purve and leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui had called on the Governor yesterday and submitted a memorandum seeking immediate dismissal of Singh.
A case had been registered against Singh over a communal speech he made in Aurangabad district in 1992.
Singh was declared an absconder by a court in May 1995 after he repeatedly failed to appear before it in connection with the case.
On the opposition charge that he had concealed the case in the affidavit filed when he successfully contested the elections from Aurangabad, Singh said he had disclosed all the 12 cases pending against him.
Out of the 12 cases, courts have granted him bail in 11, he said and claimed all these cases relates to his political struggle and were registered when RJD was in power from 1990-2005.