Lalu Condemns Nitish on Anant Singh Issue
Patna: Nov. 3, 2007
 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, a day after the Bihar bandh in protest against the NDA government in the state in the aftermath of Anant Singh incident and less than a week since holding the much-publicized 'Chetawani Rally', on Saturday fired salvo on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying he was too eager to patronize and protect Anant Singh because of his notoriety.
"The NDA has harassed me and my family members for a meager Rs. 30-35 lakh in the name of the so-called disproportionate asset case while Anant Singh whose assets are in several crores and dreams of owning his own jet, remains free from any such legal action with full protection from the government," Yadav, who is still trying to recover from the humiliating loss in the last Assembly elections, said.
"Nitish Kumar is so scared of Anant Singh that he starts shaking by simply hearing his name. If he is serious about getting the whole incident of attack on the journalists and the murder of Reshma Khatoon investigated by the CBI, why he is still sitting in Patna? Why does not he leave for Delhi and ask the Home Ministry to launch a CBI enquiry into the whole affair? I will be more than willing to accompany him to New Delhi," the Railway Minister said.
Coming to the defense of Siwan RJD MP Mohammed Shahabuddin who is serving life imprisonment in the Siwan Jail, Yadav said the Nitish government was acting out of vengeance and while the entire family of Shahabuddin was being investigated on firearm charges, Anant Singh who is known for waving AK-47 assault rifles in his social functions roams freely under government-provided protection.
"Anant Singh illegally seized properties belonging to others on Frazer Road and bought a Mercedes after robbing the NTPC. He is an accused in dozens of cases of murders, rape, armed robberies, abductions and other crimes and Nitish should bring him to trial on all these cases in the speedy trial court. We are not going to sit tight until Anant Singh is brought to justice," Lalu Prasad Yadav said.
The Railway Minister also expressed his concerns about the safety and welfare of one Munna who is said to be the brother of Reshma Khatun and is missing since the attack on journalists on Friday.
"Munna knew the details about the rape and death of his sister and could be vital in the case against Anant Singh. Surprisingly, there is no trace of him and he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth," Yadav said insinuating Munna could have been either killed or abducted by Anant Singh's goon with tacit support from the Chief Minister.
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