Anant Singh’s remarks on nine deaths spark JD(U) row

Anant Kumar Singh’s remarks at an election meeting that he had got nine people murdered while supporting Nitish Kumar sparked a political controversy in Bihar, prompting JD(U) to distance itself from the statement. Singh later said he had been referring to nine associates killed during the Lalu Prasad Yadav government, not claiming that he arranged their deaths. The remarks came as Singh campaigned for Anuj Singh, a Jan Suraaj Party candidate challenging JD(U) nominee Neeraj Kumar in the Patna Graduates Legislative Council election, scheduled for October 23. Anant Singh said he was supporting Anuj Singh while remaining a supporter of Nitish Kumar, and described his past political association with Kumar as involving major sacrifices. In his initial remarks, Singh said that while he was with Nitish Kumar, he had got nine people murdered. He also said he had stood by Kumar during his early political years. The comments were reported as having been made at an election meeting as Singh criticized the party’s choice of candidate. Singh subsequently offered a different explanation. He said nine of his associates had been killed during the Lalu Prasad Yadav government and that he...