Not possible to act against Siddiqui,says Maya govt

State government said it was legally not possible for it to initiate action against PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui.

A day before the polling in 13 districts in the sixth phase of Assembly polls,the state government said it was legally not possible for it to initiate action against PWD Minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui on the basis of recommendations made by Lokayukta Justice (Retd) N K Mehrotra.

The government has communicated its decision in this regard to the Lokayukta through a letter,according to a press release issued by the state’s information and public relations department on Monday. The government’s plea is that since the allegations levelled against Siddiqui have no relation with any decision taken by him or approval given by him in his capacity as a minister,it is not possible for it (state government) to legally initiate action on the basis of the recommendations made against Siddiqui by Lokayukta under Section 12 (4) of the “UP Lokayukta Evam Up-Lokayukta Act,1975”.

On February 23,the Lokayukta had held the Mayawati government’s most powerful minister Siddiqui,who holds 12 Cabinet portfolios,and his wife Husna Siddiqui,a BSP MLC,prima facie guilty of money laundering and misusing their posts and recommended an inquiry by the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate against both under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Sending his report to Chief Minister Mayawati,the Lokayukta had sought an action-taken report within a month. The government sent its reply on Monday.

This is the first case in which the state government has refused to initiate action against its minister on the basis of recommendations made by the Lokayukta. His previous recommendations against several ministers had led to their removal from the post.

The government’s decision comes just a day before the 6th phase of polling in 13 districts that have a sizeable Muslim population. Siddiqui is BSP’s Muslim face.

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