UP minister resigns, says Kalyan is `corrupt’

LUCKNOW, MARCH 31: A fresh crisis that had gripped the Kalyan Singh Government following a signature campaign launched by his detractors ...

LUCKNOW, MARCH 31: A fresh crisis that had gripped the Kalyan Singh Government following a signature campaign launched by his detractors about 10 days ago, deepened today with the submission of a resignation letter to the Chief Minister by Minister of State for Family Welfare Devendra Singh Bhole in Vidhan Sabha. Bhole is considered close to State BJP president Rajnath Singh.

In his resignation letter, Bhole has reportedly levelled serious allegations against Kalyan Singh. “You have turned a captive of prejudice, corruption, bureaucracy and misconduct. I am feeling suffocated and so I am resigning,” the letter states.

When contacted, Kalyan Singh refused to make any comment on Bhola’s resignation and said, “I have nothing to say at the moment.”

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According to rumours, Bhole was asked to resign by the Chief Minister who was angry with his dissident activities. Bhole is the mastermind behind the recent signature campaign launched against the Chief Minister. Kalyan Singh, had confirmed this at a public meeting recently. Bhole is sore with Kalyan Singh over the raid at his Kanpur house and the arrest of his brother Bhai Raju alias Rajendra Singh, it is learnt.

Bhai Raju was wanted by the police for securing the released of an accused — Atmaram — in a kidnapping case from the Mangalpur police station lock-up at rifle point on March 7 last. Bhole sees the Chief Minister’s hand in the raid and his brother’s arrest, sources say.

Following today’s development, Congress MLAs led by Legislature Party leader Pramod Tiwari demanded a CBI probe into the allegations levelled by Bhole against Kalyan and asked for the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral grounds.

“For the first time in the history of the State, a minister has levelled such serious allegations against his own Chief Minister,” Tewari said.

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When Speaker Kesari Nath Tripathi said he could not force the Chief Minister to order a CBI inquiry into it, the Congress MLAs walked out of the House.

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