Former Animal Husbandry and Milk Development Minister Avadhpal Singh Yadav, who was sacked by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on August 17 following his indictment by the State Lokayukta, was on Thursday suspended from the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party. He has been charged with “anti-party activities”.
Mr. Yadav was suspended after he alleged that he had been pressured to resign (by the Chief Minister) after his indictment by the Lokayukta. This has been stated by Mr. Yadav in a petition challenging the Lokayukta's verdict in the Allahahad High Court.
Taking cognisance of the allegation levelled by the former Minister, the party's State unit president Swamy Prasad Maurya said on Thursday that this ran contrary to what Mr. Yadav had said after resigning on August 17.
In his resignation letter submitted to the Chief Minister, and in a subsequent statement released to the Press, Mr. Yadav had stated that he had resigned on “moral ground” and “on his own” after being indicted by the Lokayukta, Mr. Maurya said. It was also stated in the Press release by Mr. Yadav that he had resigned to enable an impartial inquiry into the charges levelled against him, he said.
Accusing the former Minister of tarnishing the party's image by indulging in double-speak, Mr. Maurya said since his conduct amounted to gross indiscipline, he has been suspended from the party “with immediate effect”.
In his report submitted to the Chief Minister, Lokayukta N. K. Mehrotra had recommended Mr. Yadav's removal after the charges levelled against him were found to be true. The former Minister was accused of misusing his official position for getting his name registered in revenue records related to gram sabha and private land. He was also accused of illegal acquisition of gram sabha land and allotting contracts to the company floated by his son, as well as setting up a departmental office in a house owned by his brother.
While the former Minister had been suspended, Labour Minister Badshah Singh is in the dock after a notice was served on him by the Lokayukta on Wednesday. In a complaint filed with the Lokayukta, Mr. Singh has been accused of acquiring government land in Mahoba district. A preliminary inquiry was conducted by the Lokayukta into the charges levelled against the Labour Minister.
