Nitish Kumar

Patna, Sept. 13: After almost a year, chief minister Nitish Kumar was back to blogging today with a promise of a strong Lokayukt in Bihar and to bring the chief minister under its ambit.

Nitish had posted his last blog ahead of the Assembly elections on October 5, 2010.

Promising a strong Lokayukta, Nitish wrote: “I am in favour of bringing the chief minister under its ambit. I am working towards making the institution of Lokayukta more effective and broad-based in the state. Bihar has had a Lokayukta since 1973 but I feel there is need to give it more power. We are already working on the draft to bring about an amendment bill in the winter session of the state legislature.”

While laying out the initial roadmap to have a strong Lokayukta, Nitish explained his government’s intention behind introducing the Special Court Act, which has allowed the administration to confiscate the property of a public servant. “The basic objective of the state's anti-graft legislation is to instill a sense of fear among the corrupt public servants. I think the provision for the confiscation of the assets of the accused will act as a deterrent among the public servants indulging in unscrupulous practices to earn wealth,” he said.

Giving reason for posting the blog after remaining silent almost for a year, Nitish said the action promised against the corrupt public servants during his election campaigns had started materialising and it provided him with the opportunity to get back to his blog.

“To be honest, I had not stopped writing altogether. I was just waiting for a worthwhile moment to connect with you online. Now, that time has come. Last week, our government finally demonstrated something that I had been passionate about all through. We have opened a primary school in the house of a senior government official facing a disproportionate assets case.”

While promising to carry forward his battle against corruption, the chief minister dwelt at length on the Right to Service Act, the scheme to distribute bicycles among the students, the decision to abolish the local area development fund of the legislators and put the assets of the public servants at all levels on the websites.

Admitting “all pervasive” corruption in the country, Nitish said: “There has been widespread support from people across the country for the campaigns against corruption in recent times. It proves that the people in general are disgusted with the menace of corruption that appears to have made inroads into all spheres of public life.”

Reacting to Nitish’s much-awaited blog, BJP MLC Sanjay Jha said: “After fulfilling his promise of opening school in the house confiscated from the public servant (IAS officer S.S. Verma), Nitish is back to www.nitishspeaks.blogspot.com. He has proved again that he delivers what he promises.”