'Decision Taken Keeping Election In Mind': Sushil Modi Slams Nitish Over Gangster Anand Mohan's Release

Former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi slammed the Nitish-led government's decision to release former MP Anand Mohan Singh, calling it unconstitutional and anti-Dalit.

File photo of BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi

Source : Getty

Former Bihar deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi slammed the state government led by chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday (25 April) for releasing former MP Anand Mohan Singh. He declared a strike against the government, claiming that the government amended the law earlier in 2016 to state that those found guilty of killing a government official will never be eligible for remission and that the government has now amended the law once more for their own benefit so that they can win the election.

Bihar: In 2016 you (CM Nitish Kumar) amended the law and included that those found guilty of killing a government official will never be given the benefit of remission. Now for your own benefit, you have amended the law again so that you can win the election: Sushil Kumar Modi,… pic.twitter.com/nCgfhRwlyg

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2023

This comes as the Bihar government announced the release of 27 prisoners today, just days after amending the Bihar Prison Manual, which sparked a massive opposition backlash. Former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who was convicted in the 1994 murder of bureaucrat G Krishnaiah, is among those who will be released.

He further said that the government's decision is unconstitutional, adding that "this decision is against the people and Dalit community and has been taken with the election in mind."

G Krishnaiah, the then-District Magistrate of Gopalganj, was assassinated by a mob allegedly provoked by Anand Mohan Singh. A lower court in Bihar sentenced the gangster-turned-politician to death in 2007. However, the Patna High Court commuted it to life imprisonment, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012.

The Bihar government removed a clause earlier this month that prohibited the remission of jail term for those convicted of murdering a public servant while on duty.

Bihar Tweaks Prison Rules: 

The state's law department stated in its notification that the new rules apply to prisoners who have served the actual sentence of 14 years or a sentence of 20 years with remission.

"In light of the Bihar state sentence remission council meeting on April 20, a decision was made for the release of prisoners who have served actual sentences of 14 years or sentences of 20 years with remission," according to the notification.

The amendment to the Bihar prison manual benefits Anand Mohan Singh, a Rajput leader with significant clout among his caste's voters.

Several Rajput politicians have been calling for Singh's early release for the past two years. Even Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has hinted that he "stands by his former colleague" on multiple occasions.

Here's How Political Sphere Reacted:  

The rule change and the release of Anand Mohan Singh have sparked widespread outrage, with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) labelling the rule change as "anti-Dalit."

1. बिहार की नीतीश सरकार द्वारा, आन्ध्र प्रदेश (अब तेलंगाना) महबूबनगर के रहने वाले गरीब दलित समाज से आईएएस बने बेहद ईमानदार जी. कृष्णैया की निर्दयता से की गई हत्या मामले में आनन्द मोहन को नियम बदल कर रिहा करने की तैयारी देश भर में दलित विरोधी निगेटिव कारणों से काफी चर्चाओं में है।

— Mayawati (@Mayawati) April 23, 2023

Nitish Kumar was also chastised by Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT Cell. "Can someone who relies on a criminal syndicate to maintain power be the face of India, even as opposition leader?"  On Monday, Malviya tweeted.

Shame on Nitish Kumar for capitulating to RJD’s sinister machinations.

Bihar government had surreptitiously removed the "murderer of a government servant on duty" category of prisoners by amending the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012, paving the way for release of don-turned-RJD… https://t.co/4hDgcItglW pic.twitter.com/bz4RECVx4v

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 24, 2023

The ruling Janata Dal (United) hit back at the BJP, calling it a "B-team in UP" and referring to Mayawati as a "B-team in UP." In a tweet, JDU leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh stated that the rule change was intended to put the common man and special prisoners on a level playing field.

श्री आनंद मोहन जी की रिहाई पर अब भाजपा खुलकर आई है। पहले तो यू पी की अपनी बी टीम से विरोध करवा रही थी।

बीजेपी को यह पता होना चाहिए कि श्री नीतीश कुमार जी के सुशासन में आम व्यक्ति और खास व्यक्ति में कोई अंतर नही किया जाता है। श्री आनंद मोहन जी ने पूरी सजा काट ली और जो छूट किसी… pic.twitter.com/t58DkvoK3r

— Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh (@LalanSingh_1) April 25, 2023