JDU gives 4-day ultimatum to Tejashwi, asks for clarification over corruption charges

PATNA: The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday gave an ultimatum to Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav, named in a CBI FIR in land-for-hotels case, and said decision on his fate would be taken in four days. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called a meeting of JD(U) MPs, MLAs and other office-bearers of the party on Tuesday to discuss to discuss the political situation in Bihar arising out of the growing demand for the Tejashwi's resignation. After the meeting, sources said that the party has decided to give more time to Tejashwi Yadav. The party also asked Tejashwi to issue a public clarification over allegations of corruption levelled against him. Nitish Kumar has not publicly spoken about the raids in connection with handing over the maintenance of two railway-run hotels to private parties allegedly in return for a prime piece of land to Lalu's family in Patna. With 80 MLAs, the RJD is the biggest constituent of the Grand Alliance with 71 of the JD(U) and 27 of the Congress. The BJP led NDA has 58 members in the 243-member state Assembly. The RJD, which held its legislature party leaders meeting on Monday, has already thrown its weight behind Tejashwi and ruled out his resignation. Meanwhile, before the meeting JDU leaders made it clear that there would be "no compromise" with CM Nitish Kumar's policy of "zero tolerance" against corruption. JDU leaders going for the meeting said there would be no compromise with corruption and the clean image of their leader, Nitish Kumar. "Zero tolerance on corruption and good governance have been Nitish Kumar's USP and there can be no compromise on these," JD(U) General Secretary Sanjay Jha had told reporters. Jha said Kumar, through his hard work, has made a big name for Bihar in last 12 years, and added, "We cannot allow it to be diluted." The CBI on Friday carried out searches in 12 locations in Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Gurugram after registering a corruption case against Prasad and his family members, including Tejashwi Yadav, the deputy chief minister of Bihar in a case of criminal conspiracy and cheating and corruption. CBI has registered case against Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and his son Tejashwi, former IRCTC MD, P K Goyal, Sarla Gupta who is the wife of Yadav's confidante Prem Chand Gupta, among others. The CBI has lodged FIR for alleged irregularities in the tender for development, maintenance and operation of BNR Hotels in Ranchi and Puri, awarded to private Sujata Hotels in 2006. (With inputs from PTI)