Ex-BJP ministers call off fast after JD(U) MLA says sorry

Two former BJP ministers today called off their indefinite fast after JD(U) MLA Manjit Singh expressed regret in the assembly over his allegation against them that they had "swindled" crores of rupees meant to be paid to farmers as insurance claim.
Ramadhar Singh and Giriraj Singh, Cooperative and Animal Husbandry Minister respectively in the erstwhile NDA government, sat on fast yesterday charging that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar provoked the JD(U) MLA to make the level the allegations against the two.
They broke the fast after Singh expressed regret followed by Kumar's disapproval of trading of personal charges by members.
Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary, Legislative Council chairperson Awadesh Narayan Singh and others went upto them at assembly portico where they were holding the dharna and offered them a glass of water to break their fast.

Speaking to reporters, Giriraj Singh said they called of the stir after getting clean chit from the chief minister himself for the baseless allegations made against them.
Earlier, Singh, the JD(U) MLA from Baikunthpur in Gopalganj district, said in the house that he was sorry if it has hurt sentiments of any member.

He, however, said he had made the charges on the basis of documentary evidence against the two former BJP ministers.
To settle the matter on the concluding day of the short budget session, Kumar took the lead and said he felt bad for the incident.
"I feel bad for the incident (indefinite fast by the BJP leaders). The members should refrain from trading charges against each other without substance," he said in a brief speech in the house.

"Allegations should be made as per the rule of the house and with evidence and no personal aspersions should be cast by the members against each other," Kumar said, adding that such charges should be expunged from the proceedings of the house.