Mastan may be removed from Bihar cabinet

Speed Post News Network

Patna : Bihar Excise and Prohibition minister  Abdul Jalil Mastan may be removed from the Nitish Kumar ministry following strong pressure from the NDA and  by RJD president Lalu Prasad. On March 2, 2017, Lalu said he has watched the audio-video in which the minister was seen provoking his supporters to hurl shoes and sticks on
the picture of PM Narendra Modi at a public meeting at Amour in Purnia district on February 22, 2017. Lalu said the minister has committed “Atrocious act” (Jaghanya apradh).

Lalu advised the Congress leadership to drop Mastan from the cabinet. Both the Houses of the state legislature were adjourned till March 3 morning following protests by the opposition members who said they would allow normal business only after Mastan was sacked.

National Democratic  Alliance(NDA) leaders  on March 2marched to the Raj Bhawan from Bihar legislature complex  to press their demand for dismissal of Mastan for his anti-PM comments. Leader of opposition Prem Kumar did not attend the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the state assembly in protest against the absence of CM Nitish Kumar. Chief whip of BJP Arun Kumar Sinha attended the meeting.
Former chief minister Jeetan Manjhi and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi led an NDA delegation to met  Governor Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum to him requesting the Governor to direct the chief
minister to remove Mastan from the council of ministers.

Meanwhile, more than half a dozen cases have been instituted at different places in the state including Patna by the BJP leaders against the minister for spreading hatred against the Prime Minister.