Death sentences and life imprisonment awarded to JD(U) leader Anand Mohan and others for the murder of Gopalgunj DM G Krishnaiah has given a fresh thrust to rebel activities against the Nitish Kumar Government. After meeting the party leaders in jail, NDA Convener and rebel JD(U) leader George Fernandes on Sunday declared that Nitish Kumar should go.“This Government should go. In fact, it should have gone much earlier,” declared Fernandes alleging that the convicted JD(U) leaders were ill-treated inside the jail. Fernandes and other rebel JD(U) MLAs and leaders met Anand Mohan and others inside the jail on Sunday to express solidarity. The rebel JD(U) leaders said they would raise the issue among the masses and “unmask” the Nitish Kumar Government.The interesting aspect of the visit, however, was the presence of Rajput caste MLAs cutting across party lines. Around half a dozen MLAs of the caste representing the JD(U), BJP and LJP accompanied Fernandes and expressed solidarity with Anand Mohan—who during the early nineties had emerged as the tallest leader of the Rajputs. JD(U) MLAs Neeraj Kumar Bablu (Raghopur) and Jay Kumar Singh (Bikramganj) and Ashok Kumar Singh (Paru) were accompanied by Subhash Kumar Singh (Gopalgunj) of the BJP and Achutanand Singh (Mahnar) from Ramvilas Paswan’s LJP.Last Friday, Bhumihar leaders cutting across party lines had met JD(U) MLA Munna Shukla in the civil court. They came out in protest when Shukla—awarded life imprisonment in the DM murder case—was brought to the court in handcuffs. Shukla complained to them about the ill-treatment being meted out inside the jail. Reports from across the state have it that upper caste Rajputs and Bhumihars were severely annoyed with the JD(U) Government after their caste leaders were given “harsh” punishments by the trial court. These two castes had supported Nitish during the last Assembly polls. The MLAs who paid a visit to the jail also echoed the sentiment. “People across the state are angry. Anand Mohan is being tortured in jail,” remarked BJP MLA Subhash Singh, adding that this was being done under instructions from the state administration.Though Fernandes has been opposed to Nitish since he was denied the JD(U) President’s post, the recent developments have given him the ideal opportunity to cash in on the annoyance among the upper castes.
