Patna, Jul 9 (DC): Union minister Giriraj Singh has landed in to a controversy by meeting and extending support to political workers who have been sent to jail for instigating communal tension in Bihar's Nawada. He also met the family members of one of the accused on Sunday and blamed the state government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “framing workers” in false cases.

“It is unfortunate that they have been framed in false cases by the state administration. They were only trying to maintain peace and harmony in Nawada when communal tension flared up during Ram Navami last year,” Giriraj Singh said. The development occurred a day after former minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha was criticised for felicitating eight lynching convicts in Jharkhand.

Opposition leaders in Bihar are of the opinion that “the BJP is attempting to divide the society by glorifying political workers who have been indulging in communal activities”. Speaking on the issue, Congress MLC Prem Chand Mishra said: “The NDA is in power in Bihar and if Giriraj Singh feels that the youths have been sent to jail on false charges then instead of giving statements in public he should meet the Chief Minister. “This is nothing but an appeasement politics by the BJP.”