Patna, Mar 22 (PTI) : Controversial JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal from Gopalpur, has once again made headlines by threatening to carry out “politics of murder” in retaliation if harassed by political opponents, even as the ruling party distanced itself from his remarks.

“I would carry out politics of murder in the state and will get it done by others…There is no doubt in it,” he said while participating in a Holi Milan function at Naugachhia in Bhagalpur district on Sunday night.

Mandal alias Neeraj Kumar Niraj, a fifth-term MLA from Gopalpur assembly seat in Bhagalpur district, said the opposition BJP leaders have been harassing him and his workers by threatening that they would commit murders to get him and his supporters framed on false charges.
“I am a five-term MLA. Have you ever heard that an MLA is being harassed? But I am being harassed by them and so are my supporters…If an incident (murder of my supporter) takes place, the process of retaliation would start,” Mandal said while expressing no “regret” for his comment.

The remarks of Mandal, who is known for his controversial statements, have not gone down well with the Opposition and ruling JD(U).
The controversial remarks of the senior JD(U) MLA came in for sharp criticism by fellow party leaders and those from the alliance partners and opposition with senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s silence over the issue.

“Is it a ‘Sushashan’ when a ruling party MLA openly says that he will commit murder?” he asked.

“Kumar is keeping mum on the issue apparently for the sake of power,” Yadav, a former Leader of Opposition in the legislative assembly said.

The JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said Mandal should not have made such a statement, adding that the party has taken cognisance of it and will take appropriate action against the legislator.

The Congress leader and Education Minister Ashok Chaudhary too regretted the controversial statement made by the JD(U) MLA and said that it has nothing to do with the Nitish Kumar government as the said remarks have been made by Mandal in personal capacity.

Earlier on March 1, Mandal had said that he will “chop off the tongue” of people trying to threaten his supporters which has triggered strong reactions from the Opposition parties.

In support of his assertions, he had further said “one of my legs remain in jail and the other outside.”

This is not for the first time that the JD(U) MLA from Gopalpur has landed into controversy. In the initial days of the grand secular alliance coming to power, he had threatened a Deputy Superintendent of Police level officer to throw him in the Ganges from Naugachia road bridge for stopping his car, which had jumped queue during a traffic snarl last December.