Ojha won’t call it quits with Laloo

The retort came after Ojha alleged that Laloo was the ‘‘mahanayak of the fodder scam’’ and was an ‘‘unconstitutional centre of power’’, running the Bihar government by remote control.

Laloo replied, saying he regretted having made Ojha the DGP early this year. Laloo brought up a CBI recommendation for departmental inquiry against Ojha for his alleged overlooking of the fodder scam while he was in the vigilance department.

Ojha is unfazed. ‘‘The mahanayak of the ghotala is citing the CBI report that I shielded him in the fodder scam. As many as three CBI directors have cleared my name; only Joint Director U.N. Biswas wanted action against me,’’ Ojha said. ‘‘I would have become DGP anyway. There are court rulings that the seniormost officer should get the post and I was the seniormost then. Had I been bypassed, I would’ve moved court.’’

The bone of contention, however, is Shahabuddin. Laloo alleged that Ojha was acting at the behest of the Ranvir Sena, the private army of landlords in Bihar, and linking him with the ISI without any proof at all. ‘‘Only because he is a Muslim, he can’t be called an ISI agent,’’ Laloo said, alleging that the former DGP had even plotted to kill Shahabuddin in Siwan Jail. ‘‘The state government has asked Ojha to explain his gross violation of service rules. And we are investigating into all his omissions and commissions. Everything will come out soon,’’ said Laloo.

Ojha said he would not respond to the government charges and would approach the SC. ‘‘I will not pray for my reinstatement, but will raise other matters of public interest and prove that my removal was with mala fide intentions. I do not want to work under this government for even a second ,’’ Ojha said. The former DGP said he had applied for leave, preparatory to retirement in February.

He also refused to reply to the state government’s showcause notice, questioning him on the Sonepur fair address on November 28 where he referred to the government being run by ‘‘rascal politicians’’.

Opposition NDA and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have called for a Bihar bandh on Tuesday in protest against Ojha’s removal. LJP spokesperson Sanjay Singh said rallies and dharnas would be held across the state. A delegation of the NDA met Governor M. Rama Jois and sought his intervention in the issue. Rail Minister Nitish Kumar demanded that the report submitted by Ojha to the state government a day before his removal, on Shahabuddin’s alleged ISI and other international links, be made public.