Minister Justifies Kushwaha's Eviction

Patna: Aug. 19, 2008

Despite protest by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state president Upendra Kushwaha's supporters, the Building Construction Department on Tuesday rejected Kushwaha's allegations that he was thrown out of the government bungalow out of personal spite and the NCP leader was politicizing the whole issue to hide his own failings.

Building Construction Minister Chhedi Paswan, while talking to the media, said Kushwaha had been illegally living in the government bungalow on Bailey Road for the last three years. He had been served notices on May 11, 2005, May 27, 2005, and May 16, 2008 to vacate the bungalow but he chose to ignore it.

"Kushwaha was also personally approached by the Building Construction officials but the NCP leader paid no heed to them," Paswan said.

When all attempts to persuade Kushwaha to vacate the house failed, the administration had no choice but force evict him, the minister said.

Meanwhile, several of Kushwaha's supporters on Tuesday staged a dharna at the Income Tax Roundabout to protest against what they called the 'government's high-handedness'.