Maya sacks two tainted ministers

Tells Vigilance dept to probe the charges

A day after Lokayukta N K Mehrotra indicted Secondary Education Minister Rangnath Mishra for allegedly owning property beyond his known sources of income,UP Chief Minister Mayawati Wednesday removed him and Labour Minister Badshah Singh,who is facing a Lokayukta inquiry for alleged land grab. She ordered the Vigilance Department to investigate the charges against them.

Mayawati asked the Vigilance Department to also investigate allegations against Awadh Pal Singh,who was removed as MoS for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development last month after the Lokayukta indicted him for allegedly misusing powers to benefit relatives.

The action against Mishra and Awadh Pal was taken on the Lokayuktas report. Badshah was removed because there were serious complaints against him.

While recommending removal of Mishra and Awadh Pal,the Lokayukta had also sought their prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act. After their dismissal,both may be denied party tickets. While Badshah Singh could not be reached,Mishra refused to comment. I cant say anything,I am meeting the CM, he said.

Mishras had been a minister in the Kalyan Singh government. State BSP chief Swami Prasad Maurya said the CM removed the ministers so that they could not influence the investigation,and to deny the Opposition an issue for indulging in unnecessary politics. He said both had been asked to fight their legal battles and if proved innocent,they would be reinstated.

Poll gimmick,says Opposition

Mayawatis move to sack the two ministers is a political gimmick meant to deceive people ahead of the 2012 Assembly elections,BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. By sacking these ministers,Mayawati is trying to cheat people. The chief minister has lost the moral ground to rule the state and should resign immediately, Pathak added.

The Samajwadi Party said the Chief Minister protected her ministers when they indulged in extortion,land grabbing and corruption but now when their misdeeds are coming out,she is removing them to mislead the people.