Patna, (Bihar Times): The controversial Janata Dal (United) MLA from Mokamah, Anant Singh, was granted bail by the district court on Wednesday. Singh was arrested on November 1 when he and his henchmen assaulted journalists when they went to seek his opinion after the body of a young woman was recovered from Shashtrinagar police station of the state capital. The following day the opposition parties organized a bandh in protest against the incident.

The MLA and his men even smashed the cameras, mobile phones and vehicles of the journalists. Chief minister Nitish Kumar promised a fair inquiry into the incident and recommended a CBI inquiry into the case related to the murder of the woman.

Singh was arrested along with four of his supporters and they were remanded in jail for 14 days. Anant Singh will be released once the court formalities are over.

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It is extremely unfortunate that barbarians like Anant Singh are running amuck molesting democratic institutions while the administration is acting as an impotent spectator. The fact that this beast has been unleased so swiftly despite a gory trail of crimes is a testimony to the utter lack of political will on part of the government to cleanse our land of lawlessness.

Freedom of speech and justice are the most crucial factors required for the survival and prosperity of a society. After sustaining years of anarchy in Lalu's regime, the people of Bihar hope for and deserve positive change. If Nitish Kumar tolerates or shields these bandits, he will be no different than his predecessors.

In the aftermath of Anand Mohan's conviction, the home secretary Amanullah expressed government's intention to bring several criminal-politicians to justice. The list included
Mohd Shahabuddin, Pappu Yadav (both RJD), Prabhunath Singh (JD-U) and Surajbhan Singh (LJP),suspended JD(U) MLA Sunil Pandey, Ramakishore Singh (LJP), Dhumal Singh and Anant Singh (both JD-U), Bablu Dev and Surendra Yadav (both RJD), Devnath Yadav (Samajwadi Party), and former MLAs Aditya Singh, Rajan Tiwari, Ranvir Yadav, Rajendra Yadav and Ram Naresh Singh, Pappu Dev and Ashok Mahto. Unfortunately, the people of Bihar have yet to see any palpable action on the ground.

Nitish Kumar has two options. He can either engage in petty politics and have notorious bed-fellows like Anant to hang on to the throne for a brief period, or begin an era of freedom, impartiality and justice, and go down in history as the true son of Bihar. Decision is yours Mr. Chief-Minister; we hope you do not choose to make a joke of justice.

Abhay Singh, USA
abhaykmrsingh@hotmail.com