Shahabuddin pulls up BJP, reaches out to Lalu

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin has lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for indulging in unwarranted politics post his release from jail and said the saffron party is left with no option now as they have miserably failed in fulfilling the promises made to the nation.

The gangster-turned politician, who was released from the Bhagalpur jail yesterday after 11 years of imprisonment, also taunted the BJP over the present state of affairs in Kashmir.

Asserting that RJD boss Lalu Prasad Yadav was his leader, Shahabuddin said that he was least bothered about the present politics of Bihar.

"I am more concerned about the kind of politics which Lalu Yadav should do. I can also give him my suggestions. Now, it is up to him whether he accepts the same or not," he told ANI.

Silencing his critics, Shahabuddin pointed out that every crime has a motive.

"I am neither a contractor nor a goon or extortionist nor someone who does collections or takes donations, then why are they terrified? You can ask this from the people also that I am not a contractor then what is their motive. There should be a motive for something," he said.

"I don't want to name anybody. There are politicians in Bihar who earn money through contracts. One can understand that they are fighting with each other, but why should I fight? I would I create terror? What benefit will I get out of it? What is the motive? You tell me. Will I get money out of it? I don't need to indulge in such acts to earn fame. If I don't have a motive and you are saying this because of heck of it. I speak what is right but this does not suit them," he added.

The BJP has dubbed Shahabuddin's release to be a "well-planned strategy" of Nitish Kumar-led government and said it would stage protests across Bihar on September 14 to protest against it.

"It is a managed bail. It is a government's well planned strategy which cleared the way of Shahabuddin in securing bail," said former deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sushil Modi.

The Patna High Court had earlier on September 7 granted bail to Shahabuddin in a case of murder of a witness in the 2004 killing of two brothers in Siwan. He had got bail in nearly 12 other cases earlier.