PATNA: Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (U) on Tuesday suspended two party legislators, Narendra Kumar “Neeraj” alias Gopal Mandal and Rana Gangeshwar Singh, for making controversial statements. Mandal, the MLA for Gopalpur in Bhagalpur district, had openly said that he would carry out a ‘politics of murder’, while Singh, a nominated MLC, described the national anthem as a symbol of slavery.
“The party has suspended both legislators with immediate effect, besides issuing show cause notices to them asking them to explain their remarks,” said party state chief Bashistha Narayan Singh.
The decision was taken by the core committee of the party comprising Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others. The party’s national president Sharad Yadav had been consulted on the issue.
“The statements... are against the ideology of the party which believes in non-violence and Gandhian philosophy... This is not good at all and hence the party has decided to suspend them for their actions,” the state JD(U) chief said.
“Main ab hatya ki rajniti hi karunga aur hatya karwaunga (I will now do politics of murder and order murders),” Mandal, a strongman MLA involved in a number of criminal cases, had said at a function. “Pahle bhi hatya karta tha, ab bhi karoonga (I used to commit murders in the past and will do it again),” he had continued.
Singh described the national anthem as a symbol of slavery that paid tribute to those who had exploited Indians and demanded it be replaced at an event.