Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has inducted its controversial former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin into the party's new national executive triggering a political storm.
Opposition BJP said it shows that RJD gives "patronage and protection" to criminals besides seeking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's intervention in the matter as it pertains to its alliance partner which may not gel with Kumar's stated agenda of 'Sushashan'.
RJD Supremo Lalu Prasad had yetserday released the names of 77-member national committee of the party that included five vice presidents, one secretary general, four general secretaries, one treasurer, nine secretaries and 56 members of national executive, including former Siwan Lok Sabha MP and muscleman Mohammad Shahabuddin.
On March 2, Shahabuddin, who is facing trial in a number of cases of murders and kidnappings, got bail from Patna High Court in a case relating to the killing of two brothers by drenching them in acid 12 years ago.
The party justified its decision to include Shahabuddin into its national executive saying the ex-MP's appeals are pending in higher courts and it is the party's prerogative to decide whom to be inducted or whom to be excluded.
"Every political party should have freedom to relocate its political spectrum. While his conviction has been in lower court, his appeals are pending in higher courts. Like any ordinary individual, he should be allowed space to seek redressal from higher courts," RJD national spokesman Manoj Jha told PTI.
RJD believes that by raking up this, in a manner in which BJP is doing, it exposes lack of their general political instrument, he added.
Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi said there are several BJP MPs and MLAs who are tainted and they are very much in the party.
"Why does not the BJP take action against politicians who are tainted or having criminal antecedents. First set your house or party in order. There are several tainted politicians who have criminal background," said Rabri while replying to BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi's charge.
