JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav today virtually gave a clean chit to party leader Ranveer Yadav who had brandished a carbine at protesters during Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's violence-marred Adhikar Yatra in Khagaria district.
Yadav said Ranveer has been a staunch supporter of Kumar and helped him when NDA formed its government for the first time in Bihar in February, 2005.
"I have known Ranveer and his family for decades and worked closely with the latter's uncle Ramsharan Yadav, a three-term MP," he said and sidestepped a question when asked whether he approved of Yadav's conduct.
Earlier, Khagaria police had cleared Yadav for snatching an automatic rifle from a policeman and firing in the air to disperse protesters during Kumar's 'Adhikar yatra' in Khagaria on September 27.
Largescale violence and arson by protesters, including contractual teachers, had taken place during the yatra.
Kumar too had praised Yadav, husband of JD(U) MLA Poonam Devi, for ensuring that his public meeting in Khagaria was held by removing the protesters who had pelted stones on his cavalcade.
