Had told Lokayukta he would resign from land grabbing Muktipath Sewa Sansthan The Minister for Homeopathy and Religious Endowment,Rajesh Tripathi,retracted from his stand on Thursday and refused to resign from Muktipath Sewa Sansthan. The society,which he heads,The society runs a crematorium on banks of river Saryu in Chillupar under Barhalganj town in Gorakhpur district. The Lokayukta,Justice (Retd) N K Mehrotra had summoned the minister on Wednesday following a complaint that the society is collecting unauthorised subscription for the cremation of dead bodies. The minister is also alleged to have grabbed the government land near the crematorium and has constructed shops. The Lokayukta had told the minister that he could choose one post that of a minister or the chairman of the society. Denying all charges against him and the society,the minister,however,had offered to resign from the post of the society chairman. But on Thursday,addressing a media conference in Gorakhpur,Tripathi said: There is no question of resigning from Muktipath Sewa Sansthan. This society is my identity,with which I am associated for a decade. Neither have I any plan to resign from the post of its chairman nor had I given any such assurance to the Lokayukta Mehrotra,whom I met on Wednesday. In a telephonic conversation from Gorakhpur,the minister said: I have not resigned from the society. I can sacrifice anything for the sake of Muktipath Sewa Sansthan. If need be,I will not only resign from chairmanship of the Sansthan but also quit from membership. The minister,however,added: Before taking any decision,I will have to consult the local people and my leader,Chief Minister Mayawati. The minister said Mayawati has asked him to get ready to contest the 2012 assembly election from the Chillupar assembly seat. His political opponents were leveling baseless charges against him for political reasons,trying to malign his image before the 2012 elections.
