Patna: Janata Dal(United) today suspended party lawmaker Sarfaraz Alam, who has been booked for allegedly abusing a couple inside Rajdhani Express, saying his conduct was "improper".
"Alam has been suspended with immediate effect," party President Sharad Yadav said following a decision at a meeting attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other senior leaders.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister broke his silence over Mr Alam issue saying nobody is above law.
"Be it MP or MLA nobody is bigger than law. Police has freedom to act lawfully against those breaking law," Mr Kumar had said.
Mr Alam, son of RJD parliamentarian Mohammad Taslimuddin and third term lawmaker from Jokihaat in Araria district, has been summoned by police to appear before Government Railway Police Patna today to record his statement in connection with the incident.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on January 17 when Mr Alam allegedly misbehaved with the couple on board the train. An FIR was registered against him with GRP Patna the next day.
The lawmaker was allegedly travelling without ticket and was drunk. A footage of the purported incident was also aired by the media.
Bihar JD(U)President Vashisht Narayan Singh said that the decision to suspend the MLA was taken "due to his wrong and improper conduct".
"Noting that JD(U) has always promptly taken action on any complaint against its partymen for "improper conduct", Mr Singh said, "We are convinced after seeing the footage and hence we have decided to suspend him.
"JD(U) has always been for the rule of law. It is a big action."
The Chief Minister said that the Jokihaat MLA had contacted his office on January 18 and he was given time to meet him on January 19.
"But, he did not turn up which made it clear 'Mamala kuch hai' (there is something fishy)," he said. Kumar categorically said such behaviour would not be tolerated in any circumstance.
"Alam has been suspended with immediate effect," party President Sharad Yadav said following a decision at a meeting attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and other senior leaders.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister broke his silence over Mr Alam issue saying nobody is above law.
Mr Alam, son of RJD parliamentarian Mohammad Taslimuddin and third term lawmaker from Jokihaat in Araria district, has been summoned by police to appear before Government Railway Police Patna today to record his statement in connection with the incident.
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The lawmaker was allegedly travelling without ticket and was drunk. A footage of the purported incident was also aired by the media.
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"Noting that JD(U) has always promptly taken action on any complaint against its partymen for "improper conduct", Mr Singh said, "We are convinced after seeing the footage and hence we have decided to suspend him.
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The Chief Minister said that the Jokihaat MLA had contacted his office on January 18 and he was given time to meet him on January 19.
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