Hooch tragedy accused JD-U leader expelled from party

Bihar's ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Tuesday expelled a party leader Rakesh Singh, main accused in Ara hooch tragedy of 2012, after he posted his selfie with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in social media.

Embarassed over alleged liquor mafia Rakesh Singh's selfie with Nitish Kumar, which went viral in the social media, JD-U state President Bashistha Narain Singh showed him the door.

Rakesh Singh, who has been chargesheeted in the hooch tragedy in which 29 people had died, was JD-U President of Ara block in Bhojpur district and was locally known as a "dabang" (heavyweight) and considered as one enjoying political clout in the power corridors of Patna -- the state capital.

Incidentally, total prohibition is in force in Bihar since April 5, 2016, when Nitish Kumar imposed it.

Vashisht Narain Singh said two days ago, Rakesh Singh accompanied one Harinder Kumar Singh, father of a groom of Bhojpur, who returned Rs 4 lakh dowry to bride's family, to meet Nitish Kumar and took a selfie with him and later uploaded it in social media.

But the posting of selfie did not go down well with the party leaders and workers, who raised objections to it as he is an accused in hooch tragedy. It was then that the party decided to act against him.

Impressed by the decision of Harinder Kumar Singh, a retired school teacher, to return the dowry to bride's family, Nitish Kumar lauded his move and termed it as an example for others to follow.

Harinder Kumar Singh said he decided to return the dowry following an appeal by Nitish Kumar, who had as part of a campaign urged people not to accept dowry for their children's marriage.

Nitish Kumar had on Oct 2 launched a massive statewide campaign against child marriage and dowry.

--IANS

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