Sushil Kumar Modi on shield home case: No minister needs to resign

Patna, Aug 6 Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi asserted today that there was no need for the resignation of Social Welfare Minister Manju Verma or some other minister in the result of the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal "since a some people are giving statements".

Modi was reacting to queries from journalists about requests having been made by some senior leaders of his party for the renunciation of Verma, who has a place with the JD(U).

The senior BJP leader made the comment quickly after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "Lok Samvad" program. Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the occasion, Kumar said that if Verma is found involved or if against against her in connection with the shelter home sex scandal, she might be asked "to go".

Verma is in the eye of the storm after the name of her husband cropped up in the case of sexual mishandle of minor girls at the shelter home in Muzaffarpur.

"Making an allegation is different from guilt being demonstrated in an examination. A few people had even levelled assertions against a minister from our party," Modi said in an undeniable reference to Urban Development Minister Suresh Sharma, who is also the Muzaffarpur MLA.

"No BJP leader authorised to give a statement that may be deemed the party's official line has made such a request. State president Nityanand Rai has not made such a request. So it is inappropriate to translate sincere beliefs of some leaders similar to the party's feeling," Modi said.

Recently, Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister C P Thakur had said that Verma, whose office is under the scanner in the asylum home scandal, should resign taking moral responsibility for the sexual abuse of more than 30 girls.