Patna, (Bihar Times): The power politics hots up in Bihar with the chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday opening the mouth for the first time after two-days of violence.

He said that he had already ordered a judicial inquiry under a sitting judge of the Patna high court. He also said that his government had suspended the sub-divisional magistrate and deputy superintendent of police responsible for the killing of five people. Besides he had ordered for the payment of compensation of Rs one lakh to each of the victims killed in the police firing.

Hitting out at the Centre Nitish said a chief minister had to beg before the Union government for 200 MW of power, yet it is being denied. Nitish once again put all the blame on the Centre for the power crisis in the state.

The state government move came as a damage limitation exercise as on Saturday the opposition parties sought the judicial probe, payment of compensation to the family members of the victims and suspension of the DSP and SDO. It needs to be mentioned that on Saturday railway minister Lalu Yadav wondered as to why the Nitish government is blaming the Centre for the power crisis in Bihar when it had, before coming to power in the state, promised to produce electricity within no time.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have jointly given a bandh call on January 25 in protest against the Kahalgaon killing. A meeting in this regard was held at the office of the Rashtriya Janata Dal and was presided over by the CPM leader, Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi. Leaders of RJD, Congress, Samata Party, CPI and CPM took part in the meeting. Incidentally the Lok Janshakti Party was conspicuous by its absence.

Comment