Suspended MPs want Nitish in jail for diverting funds

Mandal has also sent a letter to PM A.B. Vajpayee, listing charges of corruption in recruitment, purchase and diversion of funds to his constituency, and has demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations. They threatened to move court if the PM did not take any action.

‘‘An FIR should be lodged against Kumar and he should be arrested immediately for diverting funds approved for ‘material modification’ in Bihar by the Planning Commission, to lay new railway lines in his constituency,’’ Jha and Mandal told reporters today. They also rebuked party chief and Defence Minister George Fernandes, calling him Kumar’s ‘‘spineless rubber stamp’’, for not taking action when these revelations were made to him a month ago.

Jha and Mandal, who were suspended from the party last Wednesday and slapped with a showcause notice asking them to reply within a fortnight why they should not be expelled for indulging in anti-party activities, said they would not reply. “It is pointless,’’ explained Jha, ‘‘for whatever reply we may send, we are sure we will be thrown out.’’

The two were also accompanied by former CBI joint director N.K. Singh, who was once associated with Samata Party but who left in disgust accusing Fernandes of ‘‘compromises’’. Singh said, ‘‘the fraudulent withdrawal of funds by Kumar was intended to derive political advantages both for himself and Fernandes in their constituencies.’’

‘‘There is enough proof of Kumar’s nexus with the mafia,’’ said Singh. ‘‘Such a person has no moral right to lead the NDA in Bihar,’’ he added.

Meanwhile, the party’s Sitamarhi district president Rana Ranvijay Singh Chauhan today resigned from his post and blamed Kumar for the present crisis in the party.