Patna: Hundreds of people led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday took to the streets in Bihar and raised slogans against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of sending party leader Mohammad Shahabuddin back to jail.
Shahabuddin is facing more than 50 criminal cases — including some as serious as murder, kidnapping, theft, extortion and treason. He has been convicted in 10 cases, according to an official report.
The RJD, which is headed by Lalu Prasad, is a coalition partner in the ruling Nitish Kumar government in Bihar.
The development has brought to the fore sharp differences between the Janata Dal United (JD-U) and the RJD, both partners in the ruling Grand Alliance government in the state.
The new government, which Kumar heads, came to power barely 11 months ago.
The protesters were furious over the way the Nitish Kumar government moved the Supreme Court to oppose the bail granted to Shahabuddin by the lower court.
He had been released from jail last month, after 11 years of incarceration, and enjoyed freedom for barely 20 days.
Angered by the government’s move, hundreds of people led by RJD leader Parmatma Ram on Monday took out a protest march in Siwan town and staged a sit-in to protest government’s action against Shahabuddin.
The protesters who were carrying placards in their hands shouted vociferous slogans against the chief minister and the state government.
Siwan is home district of Shahabuddin, which he represented not only in the Bihar assembly but also in the Parliament before being sent to jail in for his involvement in the criminal cases.
“He came out of jail after being granted bail by the court and didn’t get involved in any controversy, yet the government moved the apex court against his bail. This is gross injustice to Shahabudidn,” angry protesters were heard telling the local media.
The protesters also expressed their anger toward the media, accusing journalists of playing up Shahabddin’s bail story and conspiring to cancel his bail.
A timely intervention by the police, however, saved the situation taking an ugly turn.
The protesting leaders said the state government acted with vengeance just because Shahabuddin spoke against the chief minister.
“Nitish Kumar is chief minister by circumstances but my leader is Lalu Prasad,” was how Shahabuddin had said soon after being released from jail on September 10.
The remarks caused a political storm in Bihar, until Prasad himself took charge to shoot down the trouble.
Heena Shahab, wife of Shahabuddin, has also expressed shock over the cancellation of her husband’s bail by the court, and vowed to fight on his behalf, saying gross injustice has been done to him.
“Gross injustice has been meted out to my husband. Now, I will myself fight until he gets justice,” Heena, who unsuccessfully contested two elections in the past, has said.
Shahabuddin was sent back to jail on Friday after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail granted by the lower court. He remained out of jail for only 20 days.
