Bowing to the wishes of the family of slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, the Bihar government today decided to recommend a CBI probe into his killing.
"A decision has been taken to hand over the inquiry into the killing of a journalist of a vernacular daily at Siwan to CBI at the request of his family. After completing the formalities, the recommendation for CBI investigation would be made today itself," Chief Minister Nitish Kumar told reporters here.
The Chief Minister said no effort has been spared in investigating the killing of Rajdeo Ranjan, the Siwan district bureau chief of Hindi daily 'Hindustan', and in the Gaya road rage incident in which a youngster was shot dead allegedly by the son of a ruling JD(U) MlC.
On the road rage incident in Gaya, Kumar said,"... When I saw in the media the (journalist's) family's demand for a CBI probe, I personally asked the DGP to send a police team to acquaint the family with probe (being conducted by the state police).
"Patna Zonal IG N H Khan met the family and they expressed satisfaction over the inquiry. We are prepared that if they are not satisfied, a CBI probe would be recommended in the Gaya incident too," he said.
"None should have any doubt that anybody would be protected in any crime ... Under my government, nobody is above the law irrespective of party affiliation or social standing. We believe in the principle that police should conduct investigation in any crime independently and nobody should interfere in the probe process," Kumar said.
He also asked the media to behave responsibly and share information or clue, if any, with the probe officials in the two cases.
When asked about jailed RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin's alleged involvement in the murder of the the journalist on May 13 and progress of police investigation in the case, the chief minister handed over the loud speaker to the Director General of Police P K Thakur, who was present, to answer the questions.
Kumar referred to the suspension of JD(U) MlC Manorama Devi, whose son Rocky Yadav is alleged to have killed 19-year-old student Aditya Sachdeva in the road rage incident, and recovery of recovery of liquor bottles from her Gaya house following which an arrest warrant was issued against her.
The Bihar chief minister said he was personally saddened by the two killings. "I am in more pain over the two incidents than those shedding crocodile tears to score political points. For me the attack on the journalist at Siwan is like attack on myself."
On NDA's allegation of return of the 'jungle raj' in Bihar, Kumar said it was "a pre-decided tune which they play on case to case basis". Kumar added that he did not need any "certificate" from anybody on "rule of law". He said the rule of law prevailed in Bihar and would continue in future too.
In an apparent dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had called RJD 'Rozana Jungle raj ka Dar' (Daily fear of jungle raj) while campaigning for Bihar assembly polls, Kumar said, "People gave him a sound reply by electing Grand Secular Alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress with over two-thirds majority."
"They (NDA) have still not learnt any lesson and on case to case basis, their leaders start chanting the pre-determined tune of 'jungle raj'," he said.
On rivals' allegation that killings like those in Gaya and Siwan were occurring in the state as he, fuelled by his prime ministerial ambition, was busy travelling to Dhanbad, Varanasi and lucknow to attend programmes on prohibition, Kumar shot back saying, "Since taking over as JD(U) President on April 10 I have been out of Bihar for merely 100 hours. So how come you comment about my absenceIJ"
"I am a politician and have the responsibility of a party. Hence, I have to go to places ... Give me one instance that governance has been a casualty because of my going out (of the state) for a short period," he said.
Kumar said this charge was made against him by people hailing from "elite" class due to his "humble" background. "If anybody points any instance of compromise of governance due to my going out of the state for programmes, I will seek pardon holding my ears," he said.
Referring to the Siwan journalist's murder, the Bihar DGP said police efforts were focused on apprehending professional shooters suspectedly involved in the incident, investigating people behind it and motive behind the killing.
On police headquarters receiving a "hitlist" containing names of 23 people, including that of Rajdeo Ranjan, allegedly made by Shahabuddin, who is lodged in Siwan jail, he said, "An unverified information came in 2014, which after probe was found not true."
Asked about the use of mobile phone by Shahabuddin inside the jail, the DGP said, "During the recent raids no mobile phone has been found in Siwan jail."
In reply to a question, Kumar disagreed with suggestions that the previous coalition government headed by him in which BJP was a partner performed better from the point of view of law and order than the present Grand Secular Alliance dispensation.
"Killing of Ranbir Sena (a private militia of upper caste land owners) chief Brahmeshwar Mukhiya took place in June 2012 when people had fanned on roads and burnt my effigies. BJP was with me at that time," he said.
Kumar said after 2010, during the second term of the NDA government, BJP used to say the crime situation was better in the previous term and, when he parted ways with the party in June 2013, it said the scenario was better when BJP was in the government.
"Now they (BJP) see everything bad in Bihar ... They have this habit and hence it should not be taken seriously," he said.
Kumar trashed the opposition's charge of police going slow against JD(U) MlC Manorama Devi, who is still absconding in the case of recovery of six liquor bottles from her Gaya house, where property attachment notice has been pasted.
"Rs two crore was recovered from the house of a BJP leader who was minister in my government. BJP rewarded him and made him union minister of state (at the Centre)," Kumar said, apparently referring to Giriraj Singh, the BJP MP from Nawada.
On senior RJD leaders Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and MP Mohammad Taslimuddin attacking him over law and order, Kumar said, "This is the way they can get into news."
"Were their photographs in the posters of Grand Secular Alliance, in whose name we sought vote from the people ... People voted for our alliance in which I am the chief minister ... I will fulfil my commitment come what may," he said.
Replying to a question on alleged 'VIP gundagardi (rowdism)' directed towards Manorama Devi and jailed RJD MlA Raj Bhallabh Yadav and suspicions regarding former Shahabuddin's involvement in the journalist's killing, Kumar shot back saying, "Vijay Mallya flew out of India with Rs 9000 crore worth of loans. Will you blame Union Finance Minister or External Affairs ministerIJ"