Shahabuddin's release proves Jungle-Raj is back in Bihar: BJP

With former RJD parliamentarian Mohammed Shahabuddin walking out of jail after 11 years on bail, following a murder charge, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has continued to maintain that the development is an indication that 'Jungle-Raj' is back in Bihar and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar can do nothing, but be a mute spectator.

"It's a matter of great concern that the people of Bihar would not have voted for the return of jungle raj to Bihar and the way Shahabuddin has come out and they kind of language he is using for the Chief Minister," BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI here.

Emphasising that Nitish has no control over the current situation with Shahabuddin not even considering him as a Chief Minister, Kohli added that it's a matter of confirmation that 'gunda raj and jungle raj' has returned to Bihar and Nitish Kumar is willing to be a mute spectator to what the people are suffering.

However, Nitish yesterday gave a terse response to Shahabuddin's comments saying that he came to power only from the mandate of the public of Bihar and that he could not care less about what others said about it.

"I am here because I got the mandate. You'll (media) are wasting your space and time. The entire world knows what is the mandate of the people of Bihar. So, we will go according to the mandate of the public or should we pay attention to what others are saying? I never cared about such issues," Nitish said.

Shortly after getting released, Shahabuddin said "My leader is Lalu Yadav," and dismissed Nitish Kumar as a "Chief Minister of circumstance."

He had been sent to jail in November 2005 in connection with the murder of Rajiv Ranjan, a prime witness in the murder of his two brothers Girish Raj and Satish Raj. The brothers had been murdered in Siwan in August 2004.