Province 2 Financial Affairs and Planning Minister Bijay Yadav has been accused of assaulting Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Forest and Tourism Bidhyanath Jha.

Yadav reportedly slapped Jha on Sunday for not referring the NGO of his preference to the federal government for an entrepreneurship programme on poverty alleviation.

Jha said he had gone to hand over a file at Yadav’s office, where the latter was having a chat with Speaker Saroj Yadav and some government officials. When Jha entered the office, Yadav reportedly scolded him off for barging in unannounced and told him to wait outside.

Jha said since Yadav’s attitude was unbecoming of a minister, he decided to place the file on his table and walk out of the office.

He claimed that he was slapped in front of the Speaker and other officials present in the room when he approached Yadav’s table.

According to Jha, Yadav had long been exerting pressure on the officials at the Ministry of Industry, Forest and Tourism to shortlist his favoured NGO for the programme under which the federal government is offering grants.

Out of 193 NGOs applying for the programme, 40 have been shortlisted.

After Yadav reportedly assaulted Jha, the government staff staged a sit-in outside the main office complex, prompting police to intervene and to escort Yadav to safety. Police also briefly detained Jha.

Yadav has refuted the assault allegation made against him by Jha.

He claimed that it was Jha who had hurled abuses at him in front of other government officials.