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By Aditya Vaibhav: CPI(ML) MLA from Bihar’s Arwal, Mahanand Singh, on Friday stoked controversy by demanding the release of jail inmates lodged in Bihar jails under the provisions of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). Singh wrote a letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday to articulate his voice in the same sequence.
The CPI(ML) is an ally of the ruling Mahagathbandhan. The MLA wrote to the Chief Minister and urged him to release six people still in jail out of 14 people convicted in 2003 under TADA in the Bhadasi case.
The letter written by Arwal MLA mentioned that TADA was slapped in 1988 against 14 people from marginalized communities after which they were sentenced lifers back on August 4, 2003. Of these, six people are already dead. One has been released by the court and one person is still at large. Six people continue to serve their respective sentences in Bihar jails.
Talking to India Today, Arwal MLA Mahanand Singh said, “TADA was slapped against 14 people in Bhadasi case even as there was no need of TADA in Bihar. Six people are still serving jail terms. They’re poor.”
Speaking about the recent update in Bihar prison manual that has been allegedly brought about to facilitate release of strongman and father of RJD MLA Chetan Anand, Anand Mohan, Mahanand said, “Similar provisions must be evoked to ensure release of those jailed for their involvement in Bhadasi Case.”
Responding to the demand made by CPI(ML) MLA Mahanand Singh, former state IPRD minister and JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar told India Today that CPI(ML) must think about the issue and raise it on Mahagathbandhan’s internal platform for redressal as the issue is not astray one and directly pertains to the functioning of the state government.
Meanwhile, RJD spokesperson Mithilesh Tiwari told India Today that CPI(ML) has been granted due regard by Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav. Mahanand Singh has raised his demand and written to the chief minister pressing for his demand, Tiwari said.
Former minister and BJP MLA Nitin Nabin took jibe at CM Nitish Kumar over frequent internal rows in Mahagathbandhan government and said, “Crime is skyrocketing in Bihar. So is corruption. Nitish Kumar was given a free hand by BJP when he held helms of the NDA government in Bihar. He must now understand the value of BJP and the unconditional support if offered.”
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