Bihar: Nitish Kumar govt under attack over induction of tainted RJD MLC Kartik Kumar as law minister

PATNA: A war of words erupted between BJP and ruling Mahagathbandhan on law minister Kartik Kumar facing criminal charges and as well as arrest warrant for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case.
BJP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) and Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar government for making Kartik the law minister despite his tainted background.
Mahagathbandhan ally and HAM (S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi also expressed reservations on the issue. RJD leaders on the other hand, defended Singh, claiming that no coercive action order has been issued by a district court in Patna court in the case.

SuMo, the former Bihar deputy CM, demanded from CM Nitish to suspend Kartik. “He (Kartik) is the right hand of Anant Singh (don- turned- jailed politician) and he has been minister from RJD quota. A warrant was issued by the court against him and he was to surrender at the court on August 16. However, he went to Raj Bhawan on the same day to take oath as minister, rather than going to the court," SuMo said.
Training guns on CM Nitish, SuMo added, "Nitish ji should explain why he recommended a person to be made minister, against whom a warrant has been issued. If it was a mistake, then suspend him or accept that you are under pressure from RJD chief Lalu Prasad and cannot do anything."
Patna Sahib MP and former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also questioned the induction of Kartik in the state cabinet, raising legal issues against him.

Former Bihar CM and HAM (S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi was also critical of the induction of Kartik in the state cabinet. “I think the government must not be aware, otherwise he (Kartik) would not have been sown in as minister. I had also taken oath and had to resign in six days even though there was no warrant but only a case against me. There have been several other similar cases. Nitish ji takes such issues very seriously,” Manjhi said.
JD (U) and RJD functionaries on the other hand, seemed in defensive mode. “What else do you expect from BJP? They can’t say more than this,” quipped JD (U) MLC and building construction minister Ashok Choudhary on being asked for a comment on the issue.
Another JD (U) functionary and minority welfare minister Md Zama Khan, who is also allegedly facing five cases on charges of attempt to murder and violation of Arms Act, said allegations against Singh are rumours. “He (Singh) has been given bail by the court. Besides, selection of each minister has been done carefully by CM Nitish and deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. All such allegations are baseless,” Khan said.
RJD spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav on the other hand, said the government works on the principle of ‘zero tolerance’. "The new government has zero tolerance against crime and corruption. Anyone found involved in crime or criminal charges are proved against them, the government would not make any compromise in taking strict action against them," he said.