Rabri retorts: Will BJP oust Amit Shah?

Patna: A day after BJP slammed RJD boss Lalu Prasad for retaining tainted former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin in the party’s national executive, Lalu’s wife and former Bihar CM Rabri Devi on Tuesday hit back against the saffron party for “elevating a person accused in some cases” to the post of its national president.
“Had BJP president Amit Shah not gone to jail after his arrest on July 25, 2010 in connection with the Sohrabuddin case? Why has BJP kept Shah in the party? Why have they made Shah national president of BJP?” Rabri, who is also the RJD’s legislature party leader in the Bihar legislative council, asked.
She said Amit Shah’s name had cropped up in several controversies. He was a named accused in some cases. “Why have they elevated such a controversial person to the post of national president. Let BJP first keep its house in order. Ask BJP to first oust Amit Shah from his party, then talk about any office-bearer of other parties,” Rabri said.
The former CM also asked whether BJP was ready to oust Shah from the party. She also said the RJD didn’t require advice from anyone on the issue of selection of its national executive members.
Attacking former deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for raising an accusing finger on the RJD on the issue of Shahabuddin, RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan on Tuesday said, “Shahabuddin found a place in the RJD’s national executive because of his status as former MP.”
He said, Sushil Modi should not forget that Amit Shah was once accused of having orchestrated the extrajudicial killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh, his wife Kauser Bibi and his associate Tulsiram Prajapati. “BJP itself has several MPs who are facing charges of serious crimes like murder and abduction. Sushil Modi has no moral right to raise question on Shahabuddin,” Gagan said.