Fernandes Meets Anand Mohan in Prison; Lambasts NDA Government
Patna: Oct. 7, 2007
Veteran leader and former President of the Janata Dal (U) George Fernandes, on Sunday in Patna, blasted the Nitish government for failing to bring any change in the state despite being in power for almost two years while also acting in an autocratic manner in the way 'scores were being settled' against political rivals.
Fernandes, who visited the condemned-to-die former MP Anand Mohan at Patna's Beur Jail, lashed out at the Nitish government saying the way political prisoners were being treated at the jail reminded him of the British raj when inmates were subjected to extreme torture for political gains.
"It is unfair to use the jail manual as an excuse to persecute only political prisoners when the fact is even ordinary prisoners are given some freedom by the jail authorities," the socialist leader said adding the NDA government in Bihar should have fallen long time ago because of its 'ineptness and revengeful attitude'.
Fernandes, who earlier arrived in Patna by an Indian Airlines flight, went straight to the former MP Arun Kumar's house. With more than a dozen of his supporters, he then arrived at the Beur Jail where he met with Anand Mohan and offered him his shoulder to cry on.
Reacting to Fernandes' accusations, JD-U leader and state party president Lallan Singh said it was unfortunate that some leaders were politicizing the court's verdict.
"The NDA government has absolutely nothing to do with the court's judgment. This case had been going on for last 13 years and now that the court has finally settled it, opposition leaders are trying to use it for their political advantage," Singh said.
He also reminded Fernandes that it was he who had advised Nitish Kumar to not include anyone with criminal history in his government. "The court has delivered its verdict but this is not the end of this long-running saga. Convicted politicians have still a long way to go before their appeals are exhausted," the JD-U leader said.
Meanwhile, senior JD-U leader Bhola Singh, following Fernandes' tirade against the Nitish government, appealed to him to step down from the NDA's convener's post.
"His statements are unfortunate and an insult to the entire state of Bihar. He is still a part of the NDA and the former president of the party. Under these circumstances, he should refrain from uttering such comments," Singh said.
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