The newly-formed Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government in Bihar, which spoke about “zero tolerance on the issue of jungle raj”, now stands exposed as a survey report shows several ministe
The newly-formed Nitish Kumar-led Grand Secular Alliance government in Bihar, which spoke about “zero tolerance on the issue of jungle raj”, now stands exposed as a survey report shows several ministers with serious ongoing criminal cases against them.
According to a release report by Association of Democratic Reforms, as many as 19 out of the 29 members of the Legislative Assembly, who took oath as ministers on November 20, have serious criminal cases pending against them, which also includes chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejaswi Yadav. Mr Kumar has a case of murder pending against him. Besides murder charges, six more serious cases are pending against him, including an Arms Act case.
Deputy chief minister Tejaswi Yadav and health minister Tej Pratap Yadav are also facing charges related to criminal intimidation.
The report also suggests that both the sons of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav have around 10 cases pending against each of them.
Though there is no official clarification from the state government on the issue but according to sources in the Grand Secular Alliance, “Most of the cases are politically motivated and have been lodged against our leaders out of political enmity. We are sure that those who lodged cases against them cannot prove them.”
The ADR, earlier during the Assembly elections, had released a list of candidates who were fielded by the JD(U), RJD, BJP and LJP with criminal backgrounds.
The report is also defying the claims of Mr Kumar and Mr Tejaswi Yadav who had indicated a major crackdown against criminals saying they will not “compromise on law and order”, and curbing jungle raj was top most agenda of the state government.
The Opposition BJP has already started analysing the performance of the state government. Former deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi asked the government to take action against the RJD MLA who had threatened to kill a police officer.
While making accusations against the state government he had said “is this the way government wants to bring back old days in Bihar”.
