The Hindu : National : No option but to follow `Raj Dharma': Uma Bharti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 15, 2004

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National

No option but to follow `Raj Dharma': Uma Bharti

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, AUG. 14. In a swift move last night, the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Uma Bharti, removed her brother, Swami Prasad Lodhi, from the post of Chairman of State Civil Supplies Corporation. The action against Mr. Lodhi comes after a preliminary enquiry into allegations of financial irregularities.

Talking to newspersons in Jabalpur today, the Chief Minister confirmed her brother's dismissal. She said Mr. Lodhi had been removed from the Chairman's post as he was closely linked with "anti-social elements".

She informed journalists that a preliminary enquiry had been conducted after a written complaint was lodged against her brother by the Managing Director of the Civil Supplies Corporation.

Prima facie the charges against Mr. Lodhi were found to be correct, she said, adding that there was no option but to follow the "Raj Dharma" (duty of the ruler) and act against her own brother.

Mr. Lodhi has reacted strongly and launched a scathing attack on the Uma Bharti Government saying that it was neck-deep in corruption.

Talking to newspersons here today, Mr. Lodhi said many Ministers in the Uma Bharti Government were corrupt and pointed fingers at two of them.

He said that he had concrete evidence against one of them. He also accused two of the Chief Ministers' advisers of corruption and alleged that they had received massive sums of money in transfers and posting of Collectors.

Mr. Lodhi said his sister was heading for disaster.

Unable to control his anger, he even said that he would be leaving behind a written will to keep Ms. Bharti away from his funeral.

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