New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will now face his "real litmus test" for maintaining law and order in the state following release of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin from jail after 11 years.
"Nitish Kumar is now going to have his real litmus test, whether he will allow Bihar to slide into lawlessness and 'jungle raj' overpowering security or he will rise to the ocassion," Prasad told reporters here.
"We have a very genuine concern that many of those who were victims of the crimes of that gentleman (Shahabuddin) who has been convicted in many cases, is facing trial in many cases of heinous offences, and those who have deposed against him or their henchmen, will be given proper protection?" he asked.
"They are living under great fear... that also includes some journalist have faced death and many have died also," Prasad added.
The BJP leader's remarks came following the release of Shahabuddin from Bihar's Bhagalpur jail on Saturday morning.
The Patna High Court had granted bail to Shahabuddin four days ago in a case related to the killing of a murder witness.
After coming out of jail, Shahbuddin termed Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad his leader and called Nitish Kumar as the "Chief Minister of circumstance".
To a question on there being reports of a rift in the RJD and Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United, Prasad said: "Who is alleging what against Nitish Kumar is none of my concern. The current and cross currents between RJD and Nitish Kumar is a matter for him to take note of."
