NDA wants Crime Control Act invoked against Shahabuddin

Patna: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday demanded that the Crime Control Act (CCA) be slapped against former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin who was released from Bhagalpur jail two days ago after spending 11 years in prison.

A delegation of the NDA met Governor Ramnath Kovind and submitted a memorandum demanding slapping of the CCA on Shahabuddin, who has been repeatedly termed as a terror and threat for law and order in the state.

Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar said, "The NDA has demanded that state government impose the CCA against Shahabuddin to put him behind the bars again as an atmosphere of fear has gripped Bihar, particularly Siwan district. We have sought the Governor`s direction in this regard."

"We will not sit silent over this issue and expose the state government`s double standards," Prem said.

Another senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said it is for the state government to put Shahabuddin behind bars by invoking provisions of the CCA to restore the faith of the people in the government as had been done in the case of expelled Janata Dal (United) MLA Anant Singh.

He said Shahabuddin should be expelled from Bihar and brought back only to stand trial in the cases against him if it is not possible to invoke CCA against him.

Modi reiterated that the Nitish Kumar-led government is responsible for the release of Shahabuddin on bail as the state government deliberately delayed trial in one of the cases against him.

Shahabuddin was granted bail by the Patna High Court on Saturday in connection with the murder of a witness in the killing of two brothers in Siwan.