Patna, Dec 19 (IANS): While rising crime in Bihar is an issue for opposition parties, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), an alliance partner in the state's NDA government, has now blamed the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) for it.

HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, in a tweet, blamed RJD's jailed leaders and supporters for 80 per cent of crimes in the state.

Danish Rizwan, national spokesperson of HAM, said that RJD has given maximum poll tickets to those having criminal records.

"When you analyse, 60 to 70 per cent people of a particular caste are currently lodged in every jail of Bihar. They are reportedly directing gang members to commit crimes. Basically, they are responsible for spike in crimes in Bihar," Rizwan said.

"Jitan Ram Manjhi's tweet has social implications. He has pointed out that if RJD would take initiative and control their leaders and supporters, the crime graph will go downwards," he said.

Rizwan, without taking the name of Tejashwi Yadav, targeted him for sitting in Delhi and criticising Bihar government over law and order through his tweets.

Shivanand Tiwari, national vice president of RJD, strongly reacted to the statement of Manjhi.

"Manjhi is one of the seniormost leaders as well as former CM of Bihar with a long political career. At this stage of life, he should avoid giving statements like these," Tiwari said.

"HAM was earlier part of Mahagathbandhan and had a close association with RJD. If Manjhi or his party had problems, why was he associated with RJD then? It is an attempt by the HAM chief to show loyalty to Nitish Kumar," said Chitranjan Gagan, state RJD spokesperson.