Patna, August 2: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Leader Tejashwi Yadav today launched a scathing attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over  after a photo of its owner Brajesh Thakur being felicitated by the Chief Minister emerged. Yadav said, “Photos of top leaders honouring the accused (Brijesh Thakur) corroborate that several senior leaders are involved in this case, and CM Nitish Kumar is trying to shield them. The probe was delayed deliberately to manipulate evidence.”

When questioned about an old picture of Thakur with his father Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi clarified that it was an old picture at the time when Thakur was a journalist. RJD leader said, “The photo in question dates back to the 1990s. Brijesh Thakur seems to be a reporter then. He didn’t even have an NGO. They’re just trying to divert attention by highlighting this photo.”

To protest against the Muzaffarpur shelter home sexual assault case, the RJD will hold a nationwide strike. While speaking to ANI, the former Bihar deputy chief minister said, “RJD will hold a strike in Bihar & across the country, including at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, on 4th August to seek answers from CM Nitish Kumar on Muzaffarpur shelter home case and several other crimes in the state.”

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court restrained the electronic media from telecasting images and videos of minor rape victims from Bihar's Muzaffarpur district shelter home. The Muzaffarpur shelter home case came to light earlier this year when the Bihar Social Welfare Department filed an FIR based on a social audit of the shelter home conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The CBI on Sunday took over the shelter home rapes case following a recommendation by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has described it as "a heinous crime".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 02, 2018 10:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).