JD(U) MLA gets show cause for meeting Shahabuddin

PATNA: Belhar legislator Giridhari Yadav’s act of dropping in on former MP and RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin in Siwan, after the latter’s release from jail, has landed the JD(U) in an embarrassment and earned him a show cause from the JD(U) leadership.

Already flustered by Shahabuddin’s attack on chief minister Nitish Kumar, party state president Bashishtha Narain Singh issued a show cause to him, asking him to explain as to how he could associate with the ex-Siwan MP despite being a JD(U) legislator.

Singh said, Giridhari had been asked also how he could tolerate Shahabuddin’s barbs at the state leadership and keep quiet all the while.

JD (U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said the party had taken cognisance of Yadav’s act and was mulling serious action against him. Some senior party leaders hinted that the legislator, who was seen sitting with Shahabuddin during his ‘darbar’ in Siwan on Sunday, might be suspended from the party.

“We cannot accept Yadav’s conduct in being seen with Shahabuddin, especially after what he said about the chief minister,” said Singh, refusing to stipulate a deadline for action.

Party insiders said Yadav, who hails from Banka, was instrumental in arranging special treatment to Shahabuddin during his incarceration in Bhagalpur jail.

“Shahabuddin never spent any time in the cell meant for offenders ever since he was shifted to Bhagalpur jail in May this year. He enjoyed all kinds of luxury as VIP in the jail’s hospital, courtesy Yadav,” they claimed.

“Yadav wields tremendous clout not only in Bhagalpur or Banka, but also in Jharkhand. His name had figured in some cases in Deoghar in January. But, later he managed to come clean in the case,” added another JD(U) leader.

NDA LEADERS MEET GOVERNOR OVER RELEASE

A delegation of NDA leaders met governor Ram Nath Kovind and urged him to facilitate the slapping of the Crime Control Act (CCA) against former Siwan MP and RJD vice-president Mohammad Shahabuddin, who has just been released on bail.

Former deputy CM and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said an atmosphere of fear was palpable in Bihar after the don-turned-politician and RJD leader Shahabuddin got out of jail on bail. “We have sought the governor’s direction to the state government to invoke CCA against the dreaded RJD strongman,” he said after meeting the governor on Monday evening.