Bihar opposition targets minister for meeting Shahbuddin in jail

Patna: The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday demanded resignation of a Bihar minister for meeting jailed former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, who is serving life imprisonment in connection with criminal cases including murder.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar has demanded resignation of Bihar Minority Affairs Minister Abdul Ghafoor, who visited Siwan jail and met former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin there.

"Ghafoor should resign for attending `darbar` of Shahabuddin inside the jail. It is a mockery of rule of law in the state," he said.

Ghafoor along with ruling party RJD legislator Harishankar Yadav met Shahabuddin in Siwan jail on March 6, and a photo of that meeting has reportedly gone viral on social media,.

BJP legislators also protested over the issue, inside and outside the state assembly on Wednesday.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi also criticised Ghafoor for meeting Shahabuddin in jail and demanded his resignation.

A criminal-turned-politician, Shahabuddin has been convicted in six criminal cases and he is facing serious charges in over a dozen cases.