The JD(U) on Tuesday suspended two of its legislators and issued them show-cause notices asking why they should not be expelled from the party. The Gopalpur MlA Narendra Kumar Neeraj alias Gopal Mandal was constantly in the news for his controversial utternances. But the party swung into action when the three-time MlA publicly rebuked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for banning liquor from April 1, calling it a wrong decision.
The party MlC Rana Gangeshwar who too has been suspended has questioned the National Anthem calling it a “symbol of slavery.” JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar confirmed that the two legislators have been suspended from the party and show-cause notice issued to them. Mandal, whose recent statements caused ruckus in the State legislature, on Monday crossed all limit of decency when he said he would now indulge in politics of murder. Addressing a Kavi Sammelan in his constituency, he said, “Previously, I was in the politics of murder but later shunned it. Now my opponents are leveling baseless charged on me so I will return to the politics of bloodshed.”
Unhappy over the CM’s prohibition policy to ban country-made liquor from April 1, Mandal made fun of the decision. He said, “Those living in heavens love sura (booze) and sundari (beautiful women). liquor is the drink of kings and princes. How the CM can ban this. His decision (to ban) is wrong and this will never succeed. How one can afford to go without booze during Holi. let Nitish ban liquor, people will use bhang and ganja.” The MlA’s public statement made Nitish furious and at his instruction the party suspended him from the party. Earlier the party was uncomfortable with Mandal’s other provocative utterances. Recently he threatened his opponents that he would not waste a single minute in slashing the tongues of those doing caste discrimination with his supporters. Mandal boasted that he became a powerful neta after going to jail and was not scared of going to prison again and again.
Rana Gangeshwar, the JD(U) MlC at a function in Samastipur on Monday was quoted saying that the national anthem composed by Tagore was a symbol of slavery by referring to a few lines of the song.
Mandal was on the target of the opposition during the ongoing Budget session of the legislature and they had demanded that the party should rein in the wayward MlA. State BJP president Mangal Pandey said that Mandal was taking into his hands and threatening others including senior politician and former Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi. Modi alleged that MlAs belonging to ruling alliance were continuously indulging in criminal activities and were being patronized by the CM.