'From India to Pakistan, everyone invited': Anant Singh on daughter's grand wedding

NEW DELHI: Expelled JD(U) leader Anant Singh said invitations for his daughter's grand wedding are being sent to people across India and Pakistan, insisting that political differences have no place at family celebrations. He said he would invite leaders across party lines, including Former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

Speaking about the wedding preparations, Singh said everyone who had shown affection towards his family was welcome, regardless of where they came from. "Everyone who has shown us love will come. The public is like God to us; whoever comes from wherever will be a gift to me. We are sending invitation cards to everyone. I want all my friends, well-wishers and people associated with us to attend. Everyone is invited. We are contacting everyone whose phone numbers we have. Not just Bihar, invitations are being sent across India and Pakistan. Are the invitations meant only for people in Bihar? They are for everyone, everywhere. We will invite everyone. There is no ruling party or Opposition at a wedding. Such divisions exist during elections and when seeking votes, but not at weddings and family celebrations. Yes, we will invite everyone, including Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav," he said.

The wedding comes amid a turbulent political phase for Singh, who was expelled from the JD(U) along with his wife, former MLA Neelam Devi, for six years over alleged anti-party activities in October. The party's Bihar unit president Umesh Singh Kushwaha had announced the decision, accusing Singh of defying party directives, using insulting language against its top leadership and campaigning for a rival candidate in the recent legislative council elections. Despite being a JD(U) MLA, Singh had openly campaigned for Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anuj Singh against the party's nominee, MLC Neeraj Kumar, in the Patna Graduates' constituency election. The JD(U) also wrote to the Bihar Assembly Speaker seeking the termination of Singh's membership under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Neelam Devi's primary membership was also terminated over her alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

The expulsion was followed by another setback for Singh in the Dularchand Yadav murder case. On October 30, he said he would comply with the Supreme Court's direction to surrender by December 1. The court issued the directive while hearing a plea seeking cancellation of the bail granted to him by the Patna High Court in March. Singh, who was arrested earlier in the case for allegedly orchestrating Yadav's murder in October last year, maintained that he had faith in the judiciary and expected to secure bail again after subsequent hearings.