Lokayukta Indicts Mayawati's Minister, Recommends Sacking
 
Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Aug 16: In a situation similar to Karnataka, Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh recommended sacking of Animal Husbandary and Dairy Development minister Awadhpal Singh Yadav on Tuesday August 16. Yadav, has been indicted for misusing his official position as a minister for land grabbing, aiding criminal activities and financial embezzlement.

Lokayukta NK Mehrotra in his letter to the chief minister Mayawati besides his dismissal from state cabinet has also asked for initiating criminal proceedings against the minister. Lokayukta Mehrotra also ordered that the land grabbed by the minister in Etah district of the state be returned to the rightful owners. The action came after a complain of Dr Subhash Yadav of Etah. Lokayukata also ordered that cases registered against the complainant Dr Subhash Yadav be transferred to CB CID and he along with his family members be provided security.

"Almost all the charges made on Awadhpal were found to be true and even the accused not denied any of them except that he claimed himself innocent and blamed government officers for it," said Lokayukta Mehrotra. Lokayukt claimed that it was found that Awadhpal had grabbed many lands of gram sabha in Etah, had distorted records of thesil office to make claims of many other lands showing himself or his family members as its owner. Both the main opposition parties, Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) stated that the minister should be immediately sacked from the ministry on moral grounds and the criminal proceedings be initiated against him. However, they remain apprehensive that CM Mayawati will take any action against the indicted minister.