In a somewhat bizarre statement former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has directly held the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal-led Grand Alliance responsible for the spurt in crime and added that 80 per cent of the crime could be brought down if the leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, reins in the criminals who are in jail or the party leaders who are outside.
In a tweet, the Hindustani Awam Morcha leader hit back at the opposition politicians especially Tejashwi, who are daily raising the issue of worsening law and order situation in Bihar.
Manjhi said that the rise in crime is the outcome of the RJD’s move to give tickets to the criminals and their wives.
His statement evoked sharp reaction from the opposition with senior RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari expressing surprise as to how can a former chief minister of the state give such an absurd statement. Tiwari said that how can a leader who was till a couple of months back with the Grand Alliance and who had fought last year’s Lok Sabha poll with the support of the same RJD blame the latter for the rise in crime in Bihar.
Tiwari pointedly asked as is not it a fact that Anant Singh was till sometimes back in the same Janata Dal (United). “What about Ajay Singh, the husband of Siwan Janata Dal (United) MP, Kavita Singh? He hurriedly married during Pitripaksha to get ticket for his newly wedded wife as he himself could not get ticket because of his criminal record,” Tiwari added.
The RJD leader further asked as to how a government can evade responsibility and blame others for the rise in crime.
Manjhi’s statement acquires significance as he is considered close to chief minister Nitish Kumar.
