JD(U) brands slain BJP leader as 'burden on earth'

Janata Dal United JD (U) MLA Sanjay Singh on Friday justified the killing of Bihar BJP vice-president Visheshwar Ojha, saying that he was a 'criminal and 'dharti pe bojh' (burden on the earth).

"Those who died were criminals. I don't back from my statement that those who were killed were 'dharti pe bojh' (burden on the earth). But I assure you the Bihar Police will take action against the guilty," Singh told media.

"I told them that they should keep a record as to who died in the gang-wars. You have chosen a person (Visheshwar Ojha) as the BJP vice-president against whom there were 17-18 criminal cases. The BJP should have provided him a Y-level security," he added.

In the first three months of the Nitish Kumar led-Bihar Government, the state has witnessed a surge in political killings. Two BJP leaders and a Lok Janshakti Party member have been killed in separate incidents.

Visheshwar Ojha was gunned down by unidentified criminals in Bhojpur on February 12. Ojha had contested 2015 Assembly elections from Shahpur constituency. Ojha had been named in police cases on various charges including murder and had contested the Bihar elections unsuccessfully last year.

BJP leader Kedar Singh was killed by in Saran on February 11. LJP leader Brijnathi Singh was gunned down on February 5.

Reacting to Sanjay Singh's insensitive remark, BJP leader Sushil Modi slammed the legislator and the Nitish government, saying that Singh's comments show the mindset of the government and its legislators.