NDA to press for Buta's recall

Governor and Lalu in cahoots granting transfer favours

The UPA government seems to be in for a tough time on Monday in Parliament, with the NDA all set to raise the impropriety of Bihar governor Buta Singh writing to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav recommending the transfer of two railway officers to the post of their choice.

The controversy arose when a letter allegedly written by Bihar governor Buta Singh on July 5, 2005 to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was leaked.

In the letter, Singh had asked for the transfer of Vijay P Meshram, at present chief general manager, South Eastern Railway to the post of controller of stores in the Central Railway. He had also allegedly asked for the transfer of Girish Bhatnagar to western railways.

The BJP today said it would raise the issue vociferously in both Houses of Parliament on Monday and demanded his recall to ensure free and fair polls in the state.

The issue would also figure prominently at a meeting of NDA leaders called on Monday, BJP deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, V K Malhotra said.

"It was highly improper for the governor to have written to railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Both are getting postings and transfers of their choice done through each other. The forthcoming assembly elections cannot be free and fair in such circumstances," he said.

Earlier in the day, party vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi accused the UPA government of lending "direct or indirect support" to "unlawful activities" of Buta Singh and said his party would approach the Election Commission to seek its intervention as polls were due in the state.

"The revelation of the Bihar governor's recommendation is a serious matter. It has demonstrated that he is not impartial," Naqvi said.

Charging that Singh and Prasad were in league, he alleged that the governor at the "behest" of the RJD chief had recently transferred senior police officers in key places to oblige Prasad.

Naqvi added that recommending transfers was nothing unusual, saying however that "it is for the first time in history that a governor had recommended in writing the transfer of an official when the state was under President's Rule. In turn, Buta Singh has also sought a favour from Prasad," Naqvi alleged.

"This is clear proof that the forthcoming elections, if held under Singh, would not be free and fair," the BJP leader said, and added that it was the duty of the Election Commission to take note of it and take appropriate action.