Nitish mocks NDA's 'President rule' demand

With the opposition criticising him on law and order situation in Bihar in the wake of killing of its leaders, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today asserted "rule of law" prevailed in the state and mocked the NDA demand for imposition of President's rule in the state.
"Go and get President's rule imposed in Bihar...It will free me," Kumar told reporters reacting to the NDA petitioning Governor Ram Nath Kovind yesterday to recommend imposition of President's rule in Bihar.
Rejecting the Opposition rant of 'Jungle Raj' in the state, Kumar said the government did not shield RJD MLA Raj Bhallav Yadav who is accused of raping a minor girl.

"A case was registered, the police is chasing him and the party (RJD) has suspended him. The MLA will be nabbed soon from wherever he is hiding and will be prosecuted through speedy trial...Rule of law prevails in the state," the CM said after a 'Janata Ke Darbar Mein Mukhya Mantri' programme.
Stating that his government was according top priority to law and order issues, Kumar said he has been holding meetings with police and civil officials to address the problem of crime in an "institutional way."
"I will be a holding a district-wise crime review at the level of police station with the SPs and other officers on Wednesday next to have a complete profile of the problem and give stern task to the law enforcing personnel," he said.

"I have instructed installation of CCTV cameras in every important government installation in Patna and other parts of the state for better tracking of crime," he said.

A 24X7 helpline number under control of the DGP was being set up to act promptly on complaints, he said.
"I have sought details about deployment of policemen at homes of VIPs as many of them are seen helping in purchase of vegetables and even farming in the bungalows... Government does not pay them for all these things," he said.
He took potshots at BJP and its NDA allies of making allegations against his government on the crime situation.

Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav also rubbished
allegations of "return of Jungle Raj" and sought to put blame on the media for joining hands with Opposition leaders in "painting a bad image of Bihar."
Asked to comment on BJP's slogan of "return of Jungle Raj" in the wake of the killing of some NDA leaders and a RJD MLA booked on the charge of rape, Tejaswi Yadav said the police has been acting freely to take on anybody breaking law.
He cited registration of an FIR against party's Nawada MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav in a case of rape of a minor girl and the party suspending him.

On allegations on RJD of promoting 'Jungle Raj' Tejaswi Yadav, leader of RJD Legislature party in the state Assembly, brushed it aside saying "these are old sayings."
"Voters of Bihar have answered all these allegations by rejecting even Prime Minister Narendra Modi playing the jungle raj card against us in the state elections...I do not know why a few BJP leaders are still developing stomach aches," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 'Janata Ke Darbar Mein Mukhya Mantri' programme.
Asked if RJD MLA Yadav had brought embarrassment for the state, Tejaswi sought to turn the tables on the Centre by asking "why a person like Nihal Chand, accused of rape charge, has been made a Union Minister?"

"My brother-in-law was robbed of his car outside a Mall in Gurgaon recently in the BJP-ruled Haryana. Why do not you ask them if Jungle Raj is prevailing in Haryana?
"BJP MLAs are reported of breaking toll plazas, opening fire and accused of rape, but why don't you call these example Jungle Raj?" he asked the media.
"Show me the data, which shows rise in crime graph. What we know that according to official statistics, Bihar figures at 22nd position out of 29 states in crime figures...If you have any other data please show us." he said, appealing to reporters "not to be guided by TRP.