BJP clearly troubled by my release: Shahabuddin

Siwan [India], Sept. 16 (ANI): Asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was squirming in its seats because of his release, former RJD MP Shahabuddin said that he was not perturbed with the Bihar Government challenging his bail in the Supreme Court, adding that he would follow the apex court's orders like any other common citizen. Speaking to ANI here, Shahabuddin expressed ease at the development, saying that he does not believe anyone is truly against him. "I am not different from any other ordinary citizen who has to follow the orders of the court and I will comply with whatever the decision is," he said. Talking about the controversy of him being spotted with alleged sharpshooter Mohammed Kaif, who is currently embroiled in charges over the murder of journalist Rajdev Rajan, Shahabuddin defended Kaif, saying that he had done nothing wrong and that no charges against him were proven. "Why can't I have a picture with him (Kaif)? You are calling him a shooter now because of a small disagreement he had in his locality. He works on daily wages and earns 10,000 rupees. He takes care of his entire family on that meagre sum. He does not have the time or the means to go around extorting people," the former parliamentarian stated. Emphasising that all charges against him are a political conspiracy, as he has been cleared by the courts in previous cases and recently was granted bail in another case, Shahabuddin added that the BJP is clearly troubled with his release. "BJP has a problem with my release. Why is it so bothered with me? Why will a political party have a problem with my release? Clearly they are worried because they are losing their grip in Bihar," he said. Meanwhile, succumbing to the pressure from the Opposition parties, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government today filed a petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the Patna High Court's order of granting bail to Shahabuddin. Earlier, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan also filed a petition in the top court for the cancellation of bail granted to Shahabuddin, who walked out of the Bhagalpur jail last week. Siwan native Chandrakeshwar Prasad's also filed a petition in the apex court seeking cancellation of Shahabuddin's bail. The court will hear Prasad's plea on September 19. Shahabuddin, who had been in jail for more than 10 years in connection with multiple cases, was granted bail by the Patna High Court on September 7 in connection with the murder of a man who witnessed the killing of two brothers in Siwan. Shahabuddin's release from jail evoked widespread criticism of the grand alliance in the state with the opposition accusing the government of paving way for his release by not opposing the bail strongly in the court. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has said that the controversy over Shahabuddin getting bail has been created by the BJP and the media and the matter should be decided only by the courts. Shahabuddin had also downplayed the NDA's demand slapping Crime Control Act against him and put the ball in Nitish Kumar's court while asserting that if the process is initiated then it would be an administrative decision. "I will do what I have to do. I have always been the way I want. Whatever the government wants to do...can do...what can I comment on that? The grounds for initiating CCA will be prepared and then imposed. According to me, there should not be any grounds for anything but the decision will be taken on what the government says," Shahabuddin told ANI. "It's not about ego or pride. I don't have any regrets because I think a lot before speaking. I might seem to be angry when I speak. If I can't smile then how can I pretend? I have always spoken the truth," he added. (ANI)