Thursday, June 23 2005 15:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Darbhanga: Unfazed by the arrest warrant issued against him, the controversial Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Mohammad Shahabuddin today (Jun 23, 2005) attended a public function in Darbhanga in his honour saying the muslims are wholeheartedly behind the party and nobody could lure them for political gains.

''If a warrant of arrest has been issued against me, does it mean that I should hide myself There are 2-4 warrants always against me. I have the independence to move anywhere,'' Shahabuddin told reporters in reply to a question relating to Siwan DM Santosh Kumar Mal issuing the arrest warrant against him yesterday (Jun 22, 2005).

Mal had asked Siwan superintendent of police Ratan Sanjay to arrest Shahabuddin and produce him in his court on or before July 1 for examinations in a matter related to book him under the Bihar Control of Crimes Act (CCA) for his criminal activities post February 18, the day he was externed by the then Siwan DM C K Anil from Siwan for six months.

Shahabuddin, the RJD MP from Siwan was here to attend a function organised by the 'District Moharram Committee' in his honour. Union Minister and local MP M A A Fatmi accompanied Shahabuddin to the function.

In an apparent reference to Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan making all-out efforts to woo muslims in his party's favour in the coming Assembly polls, Shahabuddin said ''Nobody can lure Muslims for their political gains.

The efforts to woo muslims for personal gains will not yield any result, the Muslim community is wholeheartedly behind RJD, which has always stood with them.'' The MP said he would be touring Bihar to organise and awaken Muslims (in favour of RJD).