RJD and Cong demand CBI probe into BIADA land scam

Only an independent probe agency like CBI would be able to uncover the alleged irregularities involving BIADA land allotment to relatives and wards of several Bihar ministers, MPs and legislators, besides bureaucrats, RJD said in its memorandum to Governor Devanand Konwar.

``The irregularities in the allotment of land of BIADA was similar to the 2G spectrum scam as the allotment procedure for both was `first come first serve`, RJD state president Ramchandra Purve said after the party`s `Rajbhavan March`.

BIADA land was allegedly allotted to the kin of influential ministers and bureaucrats by tweaking rules by the Nitish Kumar government in 2007 as was the case in the 2G spectrum scam in which Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe, he said.

Besides Purve, Leader of Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui, his counterpart in the state Legislative Council, Gulam Gaus and RJD secretary general Ramkripal Yadav participated in the march.

They, however, could not meet the governor as he is away in Assam. .

A Congress delegation led by its state president Choudhary Mehboob Ali Kaiser also went to Rajbhavan and handed over a memorandum demanding a CBI probe.

"The irregularities pertain to the allotment of land of BIADA to wards and relatives of Bihar ministers, MPs, MLAs and bureaucrats... We equate the case with the Adarsh Housing Society irregularities," Kaiser told reporters after emerging from Rajbhavan.

It was also in the interests of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to recommend a CBI inquiry if he was `really` interested to ensure an impartial and independent investigation.

Kaiser said Congress activists would hold a demonstration in New Delhi to press for the CBI probe.