New Delhi: BJP MLA Maithili Thakur has repeatedly criticised the former Rashtriya Janata Dal government of Bihar, claiming that people were too afraid to step out of their homes. Now that Thakur’s father is facing allegations of land encroachment, Janshakti Janta Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav reminded the MLA of the same statements.
As per local reports, Thakur’s family has also made statements about the issue of land scams in Bihar in the recent past. Now, the Darbhanga district administration has taken action against the MLA’s father.
On Thursday, the Deputy Collector Land Reforms (DCLR) and Circle Office reached the encroachment area, conducted a land survey, and then removed the illegal construction in Darbhanga.
The DCLR Ajay Kumar said that he received three complaints from the villagers. One related to encroachment at government land and two on private land.
Villagers also reportedly wrote to Circle Officer Alok Kumar about the encroachment on religious sites, government land, roads and private property.
In a complaint to Circle Officer (CO) on 7 September, complainant Gagan Kumar Mishra wrote that MLA Maithili Thakur’s father encroached the land.
“When I ask for the encroachment to be removed, Ramesh Thakur threatens to implicate me in various types of false legal cases,” read Mishra’s complaint.
On Thursday, in the presence of government officials, workers removed encroachment from the government road in Pokharbhinda village. The administration had measured the disputed area following villagers’ complaints and found construction, including brickwork and dividers, on the public road; it had that portion cleared. However, no removal action was reported on the alleged encroachments involving private land, as officials were still verifying ownership documents and conducting measurements.
Thakur’s father is said to have recently bought a piece of land in his village. The villagers claimed that he encroached on land outside his territory.
Also read: Odisha civil servant fired for Rs 7k bribe. Officers ask why IAS pocketing Rs 10 lakh is not
‘Baseless allegations’
MLA Maithili Thakur on Thursday called the allegations on her father baseless.
“These false allegations against our family are baseless. It upsets me deeply to hear that people are writing such things. If there’s anything to this, ask the local circle officer. If an allegation is being made, what is it based on? Prove it. I’m very concerned that people are using such strong language—what is it based on? Baseless rumours are being spread,” said Thakur.
Tej Pratap Yadav has also demanded an impartial investigation into the allegations of a land scam.
“The allegations emerging in the media against Ramesh Thakur of allegedly grabbing land and amassing assets worth crores of rupees are extremely serious. I demand that the Bihar government and the relevant investigating agencies immediately conduct an impartial, transparent and high-level investigation into this entire matter so that the truth can be brought before the public,” wrote Yadav on X.
He hit at Thakur and her father’s devotional singer identity, and said that they are also “expected to uphold transparency and accountability in public life.”
(Edited by Ratan Priya)