JD (U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam, accused of abusing a woman and misbehaving with her husband while travelling on New Delhi bound Gawhati Rajdhani express last week, was suspended from the party on Saturday f
JD (U) MLA Sarfaraz Alam, accused of abusing a woman and misbehaving with her husband while travelling on New Delhi bound Gawhati Rajdhani express last week, was suspended from the party on Saturday for “causing harm to the party’s image”.
The action against the MLA was later confirmed by the state JD (U) president Basisth Narayan Singh who said the “party suffered due to his misconduct and the decision to suspend him was taken after consulting senior leaders including party chief Sharad Yadav and chief minister Nitish Kumar”.
RJD chief Lalu Yadav later welcomed the move saying, “such kind of attitude is not good for the government and party, I welcome action against him”. Earlier on Saturday, before the party initiated action against the MLA, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had said the party was not in favour of protecting such leaders who take “law into their hands”.
“Such incidents cannot be tolerated under any circumstances and nobody is above law,” Mr Kumar said in Patna.
Action was taken a day after the Railway police had served a notice to the JD (U) MLA asking him to be physically present for questioning on the issue. According to the police, a passenger Inderpal Singh had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the MLA had misbehaved with his wife and him and had used foul languages against her after she refused to vacate her seat for him.
Sarfaraz Alam had earlier denied all allegations against him claiming that he didn’t even board the train and had called it “an attempt by his opponents to tarnish his image”. His claims were however proved wrong after the Railway police released CCTV footage which showed his presence at the Patna railway station on January 17. The suspended MLA was later summoned by the railway police for questioning.
The chief minister and state JD (U) president also hinted that the party was planning similar action against other senior party leaders, including MLA Bima Bharti and MP Santosh Kushwaha.
He said, “The party will not hesitate in taking stern action against them if they are found guilty.”
Bima Bharti is accused of helping her husband Awadhesh Mandal escape from police custody last week and JD (U) MP Santosh Kushwaha’s role is also under question.
