Bihar Cooperative leaders of various cooperative societies led by Ranjit Singh, son of Late Tapeshwar Singh,Vishal Singh , son of late Ajit Singh, Vinay Sahi, former director of Biscomaun demanded elections of recently superseded board of state based cooperatives.
Readers may recall that state government superseded the board of several cooperative federations including Biscomaun and Bihar State Housing Federation on Monday. It also superseded the board of 14 district cooperative banks and board of about 300 Vyapar mandals across the state.
Addressing a press conference in Patna on Saturday Chairman of PACS from Buxer, Ranjit Singh said that some people are trying to hold onto the seat of power despite completion of five years of their tenure. Transparency is a must in the working of cooperatives. Cooperative leaders who have completed their term should make way for democratic election on the lines of PACS, he added.
Lauding his father’s role late Tapeshwar Singh in strengthening cooperative movement Mr Ranjit said that he toured on bicycles for 30 years and erected institutions. Some people want to destroy them by indulging into wrong practices. He was replying to a question from media man where supersession of Biscomaun by Bhagwat Jha Azad in the past was cited. Tapeshwar Singh was Chairman of Biscomaun and was opposed to government move. The then Chief Minister Azad called him mafia.
Who is mafia-the one who builds cooperative institutions,reaches up to ICA and have no corruption case in government record or the one who have host of vigilance cases pending against them, Ranjit Singh asked.
Vishal Singh who is on the board of Governing Council of NCUI and son of late Ajit Singh demanded CBI investigation in the functioning of various cooperative federations in the state.
Vinay Sahi, Panchanan Sharma, Ex-Chairman of Bihar State Cooperative Federation and others stood in support of Government move to supersede various cooperative federations of state.
The cooperative politics of state is turning murkier every day. RJD supported leaders are pitted against JDU. Sunil Singh, the former Chairman of Biscomaun and close to RJD camp claims to enjoy massive support in the state. JDU camp pooh-poohs his statement and dares him to fight in fresh election.
Such political colouring of cooperative democracy does not bode well for the movement.