Patna: RJD on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the NDA govt in the state over the killing of a govt official inside his office in Bhagalpur, alleging that the incident exposed growing criminal patronage under the ruling alliance and reflected a supremacy battle between the BJP and the JD(U).Addressing a press conference here, state chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said the manner in which the Bhagalpur incident was being discussed since morning indicated an attempt by the ruling establishment to divert attention and shield itself from accountability. He was joined by state spokespersons Ejaz Ahmad, Arun Kumar Yadav and Pramod Kumar Sinha, Panchayati Raj Prakostha state president Mahendra Prasad Vidyarthi, and Ati Pichhda Prakostha state spokesperson Upendra Chandravanshi.Yadav said crime and criminals had no caste, but accused former CM Nitish Kumar of deepening caste divisions in Bihar over the past two decades. He said the RJD had always supported efforts to make Bihar crime-free and would back any impartial action by the govt.The RJD leader alleged that “power-protected criminals” were being encouraged in the state. Referring to a 2023 clash involving Ramadhani Yadav and Rajkumar, in which Ramadhani was shot at, he claimed the latest incident in Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, was part of a continuing supremacy struggle involving leaders linked to the BJP and the JD(U).Displaying photographs at the press conference, Yadav alleged that criminals enjoyed proximity to influential political figures and said this explained their lack of fear. He asked ruling alliance leaders to clarify their alleged closeness to individuals accused of criminal links.He also referred to the 2020 assembly elections, saying Ramadhani’s wife, Neelam Devi, had contested on a LJP(RV) ticket, while her son Sunny Yadav was associated with JD(U) MLC Vijay Singh.
