Hope Nitish govt will take decision in challenging Shahabuddin's bail plea in SC: Cong

New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday hoped the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government will take a considered decision in challenging controversial RJD strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin's bail plea in Supreme Court and will follow previous guidelines and established practices to decide on it.

Congress, which is a partner in the ruling grand alliance in Bihar, said the matter should not be politicised.

"There is no question of a political party taking a stand on the legal proceedings. These are established criteria in every state government as to when to and when not to challenge a judicial High Court order in the Supreme Court. We have no doubt that government will follow the guidelines.

"The state government will take a considered decision. Ultimately in these matters, the decision lies with the high court or the appellate court. Please don't try to politicise that. The state government through its established channels and used criteria for several years will decide that," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

He also refused to be drawn in the controversy within the Samajwad Party-led Uttar Pradesh government saying, "it is their internal matter" but hoped there is governance in the state in the remaining period of its term.

"As far as UP is concerned, a political party in its formal briefing will not make any comment on the internal affairs of another party. It is their internal matter.

"We only believe that the remaining time of this government, at least the state gets governance, if not governance as one cannot expect of good governance from them," he said.

To a question on separatists leader Geelani not paying income tax, he said the Income Tax Act is the same for everyone in the country and cannot be suspended for an individual or a state and the authorities will take action once the facts have come out in public domain.

"I feel the Income Tax act is the same for everyone in the country. Income Tax Act cannot be suspended. Whenever facts come out, the department should analyse and should certainly take action accordingly. I don't think a law can have different yardsticks. The authority under the statute will take a decision," he said.