Manorama Devi's suspension not under Oppn pressure: Nitish Kumar

Patna, May 20: The ruling JD(U) in Bihar today said it suspended its MLC Manorama Devi from the party not under pressure from the Opposition but on instruction of the party president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The party suspended its MLC Manorama Devi for allegedly harbouring her son Rakesh Ranjan Yadav alias Rocky Yadav, an accused in the Aditya Sachdeva murder case in Gaya, for days.

"The suspension of the MLC from the party and the action against her by law enforcement agencies have been taken on the basis of (Chief Minister Nitish) Kumar's unequivocal beliefthat law must take its own course," JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh said.

Singh was reacting to media reports suggesting that Manorama Devi was suspended by the JD(U) under "mounting pressure" from the Opposition.

He said the Chief Minister has maintained a consistent stand that the law must function without fear of anybody, be it JD(U) legislators or those from its coalition partners. "Nitish Kumar neither frames anybody in a case nor comes to the rescue of those facing charge," Singh said.

He said, "Under the Nitish Kumar regime, nobody will be spared for committing a crime, however powerful or mighty that person may be and the same yardstick has been applied in the case of Manorama Devi."

He said Opposition BJP and its senior party leader Sushil Kumar Modi in particular should not be under "illusion" that the action against the MLC or in any other case has been initiated under their pressure.

PTI