The arrest of Bihar’s undisputed don and Janata Dal(U) MlA Anant Singh has become a major political issue ahead of the Assembly polls. After police took Singh on a 14-day remand under pressure from RJD chief lalu Prasad in a case of murder of a Yadav boy, Singh’s supporters went on rampage in Barh, Mokama, Begusarai and other places, stopped many trains and even attempted to set afire bogies of Ara-Mokama shuttle train on Thursday. The arrest has deepened the caste politics in the State.
Singh’s men attacked Patna-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express, and broke its window panes at Barh station and inured some passengers. They also blocked roads at several places. Even as the Opposition accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of acting under lalu’s pressure, the RJD chief admitted that it was his “pressure” which led to the arrest of Anant Singh.
“Yes it was my pressure (which led to Singh’s arrest). What should I have doneIJ What will you do if somebody pulls your child and takes him away or if somebody attacks a journalistIJ Such people destroy social harmony,” lalu told the media.
Anant supporters had called a bandh in Barh in Patna district on Thursday. It evoked massive response as most shops and markets remained closed. Anant Singh was arrested on Wednesday on charges of kidnap and murder of a realtor in Bihta last year.
“There is rule of law in Bihar and I will not allow any criminal to go scot free howsoever he may be powerful. I am very serious about law and order and this is my message to all and sundry that law will take its own course if anybody dared to law into his hands,” lalu said in his Facebook post.
The arrest caused ripples in the political circle. While some see it as Nitish’s determination not to compromise on rule of law, others feel that the arrest of Singh showed lalu is already calling the shots in running the Government.
Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary lashed out at the Opposition for saying that the arrest of Singh was just eyewash. “Sometimes they say the Government is protecting the criminals under the influence of RJD. Now they say Anant Singh was arrested under the influence of the RJD. They also blame that criminals are going scot free since the JD(U) shook hands with RJD. Now they should come out clean on their stand,” said Choudhary.
Singh belongs to powerful Bhumihar caste and the BJP is gaga over his arrest, thinking it will help polarisation of the upper caste against Nitish -lalu combine.