Patna: Under fire over alleged rape of 34 girls at a government-funded shelter home, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday blamed “system flaw” for the case and rejected demands for sacking his social welfare minister Manju Verma only on the basis of allegations by opposition leaders.
Kumar also announced his decision to phase out the practice of shelter homes being run by NGOs and said the state government would take over administration of all such centres over a period of time.
He said Verma can be asked “to go” only if she is found to have facilitated any wrongdoing and not because of “noises” being made – a stance that found support from Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.
Kumar also took potshots at his former party colleague Sharad Yadav and other opposition leaders for attending a protest in the national capital on the issue, saying it was amusing to see people having spoken unkindly of women holding candle lights at an event organised by a person facing corruption charges.
Soon after Kumar replied some media queries during his weekly public interaction programme “Lok Samvad” while referring specific questions to officials on why the main accused Brajesh Kumar was never taken into police custody, his deputy chief minister also asserted there is no need for resignation of Verma or any other minister “just because some people are giving statements”.
Verma is in the eye of storm ever since name of her husband has cropped up in the Muzaffarpur sex scandal, in which medical reports have confirmed rape of 34 out of a total of 42 inmates of the shelter home. The opposition parties have been gunning for the minister’s head.
“Investigations are on. If it is found that she had in any way facilitated any wrongdoing, she may have to go, but (not) because people are making noises,” Kumar said.
Hitting back at opposition leaders, Kumar said where were these people, who have suddenly grown so sensitive, when the first FIR was lodged on May 31 and why have they woken up to the scandal in the last few weeks.
Coming in support of Verma of JD(U), Modi said no minister needs to resign just because some people are making noises.
