Abduction: Fight now between RJD, LJP

Abduction of two senior officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation NHPC in Bihar has taken a political twist with leaders o...

Abduction of two senior officials of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation NHPC in Bihar has taken a political twist with leaders of the ruling RJD making remarks about the Lok Janshakti Party LJP, their partner in the UPA Government at the Centre. After the police searched the house of LJP MLA Munna Shukla in Muzaffarpur today, in connection with the kidnapping, a Union minister and RJD leader said in Patna: 8216;8216;Everybody knows who is behind all these. Everyone knows which party is a party of dacoits.8221; Asked if it was a partner of his in the Union Government, Raghuvansh Prasad shouted: 8216;8216;Partner in government or not, there is a high level conspiracy to malign Bihar and stall its development.8221;

NHPC is entrusted with the construction of rural roads in Bihar 8212; a task carried out in other states by state government agencies. K.K. Singh and P. Mandal, chief engineer and general manager respectively of NHPC, were kidnapped in Vaishali district on Friday.

Prasad was referring to the recent large-scale induction of history sheeters into Ramvilas Paswan8217;s LJP in the run-up to the elections. Talking in the same tune earlier in the day, Chief Minister Rabri Devi and Railways Minister Laloo Yadav said 8216;8216;the government has accepted the challenge from those trying to sabotage development in Bihar.8221;

Both Munna Shukla and another MLA Rajan Tiwari were supporters of the RJD till they joined Paswan few months ago. And the RJD lured muscleman Pappu Yadav from the LJP to be its candidate for the recent Madhepura by-election.

Both Yadav and Tiwari are the accused in the murder case of former MLA Ajit Sarkar. Munna Shukla is among the state8217;s contractor-politicians, and elected independent MLA from Lalganj.

The Bihar police today claimed they have definite clues about the abductors. However, officials refused to talk about the search at Munna Shukla8217;s house.

8216;8216;There is nothing that makes news for you in the search,8221; said B.S. Jain, IG, Muzaffarpur. The police is conducting raids at various places to find the abducted NHPC officials, sources in the police said.