RJD questions Nitish's silence over Giriraj

Patna:  The RJD on Thursday questioned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy about their silence on a land-grab case in which Union Minister Giriraj Singh has been named as one of the accused.

A day after the case was lodged against Singh in Danapur police station near here, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav demanded the resignation of Singh.

The former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister said: "Will Nitish too ask for Giriraj's resignation, listening to his conscience?" Singh is known as a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a champion of Hindutva politics.

Even after the FIR was lodged against Singh, Nitish Kumar has remained silent, the RJD leader said, adding, "Will he break the alliance with the BJP?"

Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United is a BJP ally and Giriraj Singh is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Nawada Lok Sabha seat.

"Where have Nitish Kumar's ethics gone and why is he not speaking on the issue of Giriraj Singh?" Tejashwi said.

The case against Singh was lodged on the order of the Patna Civil Court. Singh has been accused of forcibly grabbing two acres of land in Danapur.

Danapur police station officer-in-charge Sandip Kumar Singh said that police has started an investigation into the case.

Tejashwi Yadav further said that Giriraj Singh is the same Minister from whose house in Patna crores in cash were seized soon after he became a minister in the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

"What happened to that case?" Tejashwi said as he also attacked senior BJP leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, "He is known for making a statement on everything. But why was country's biggest afwah mian (rumour master) keeping mum on the issue of Giriraj Singh?"