Clash within NDA: Paswan Attacks Nitish Kumar on Deteriorating Law and Order in Bihar
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, July 26: In a clear indication that the BJP want to dump the Bihar’s Janata Dal (United) chief minister Nitish Kumar after the Assembly elections, the Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, considered to be close to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday lambasted the NDA government in Bihar for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Talking to media persons in Patna, Mr Paswan said he felt “sad and ashamed” that he was supporting such a government in his home state. Mr Kumar’s JDU quickly hit back and said people questioning the law-and-order situation should stop admitting criminals to their party.
Reacting to Mr Paswan’s statement without naming him, JDU Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said, “Before making remarks, people should look inwards. Those who are criticising the law-and-order situation in Bihar should stop criminals from joining their party. If you think giving advice and criticising someone is enough, it is not.”
“No state can be crime-free and what is important is how the Bihar Police acts against the accused and ensures strict action. Over 100 fast-track courts are being established in Bihar. The police have always had the upper hand against criminals in Bihar and this will continue to be the case,” he added.
“Incidents have happened anywhere, even in Bihar. But undoubtedly, compared to other states, the law system in Bihar is better. We believe that the police in Bihar should be responsible for arresting the criminals, identifying the incidents, and how the people who are responsible should be punished severely. This is how the policy works,” the JDU spokesman said.
With elections in Bihar looming later this year, the attack and counter attack within the NDA sparked by Mr Paswan’s blunt criticism has caused ripples within the ruling alliance and raised questions if Mr Modi’s cabinet colleague could launch such a sharp attack against a NDA partner without a nod from the prime minister.
Expressing concern over the surge in criminal activities in Bihar, Mr Paswan said, “I feel sad that I am supporting a government where crime has become rampant. It is imperative to control it, or else the consequences will be very bad. This is playing with the lives of people here.”
He accused the administration of bowing before criminals, saying, “A series of crimes like murder, rape, gang rape, dacoity, burglary, theft and eve teasing are taking place one after another in the state. Though action and arrests have taken place, it raises the question – why are such incidents happening in the state?”
He further accused the Nitish Kumar administration of bowing before criminals. “The way murders, kidnappings, looting, robbery, rapes have taken place one after the other in Bihar and now it seems that the administration has totally bowed down in front of the criminals,” he added. With assembly elections approaching, Paswan acknowledged the possibility of crimes being orchestrated to defame the government. However, he emphasised that it was still the administration’s responsibility to maintain law and order.
“I have heard claims that the recent spurt in violent crimes is linked to the upcoming assembly polls, and there are attempts to defame this government. Still, it is the responsibility of the administration to keep law and order under control,” he added.
He further attacked the government and said, “Either the administration is in collusion with it or the administration has become completely useless and now it is beyond their power to keep Bihar and Biharis safe.” Urging immediate action, Paswan appealed to the state government, “I request the Bihar government to act before it’s too late.”
Coming in defence of Mr Nitish Kumar in the face of Mr Paswan’s blunt attack, another union minister and NDA partner from Bihar Jitan Ram Manjhi advised the LJP chief to refrain from publicly attacking the NDA partner.
“We are in NDA. We have to help NDA. We wish him all the best. He should strengthen the NDA. If he does not adopt the 2020 policy, it will be a very good thing. Because today NDA has become necessary for the society and the country. Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar are doing all kinds of development. If someone opposes NDA, then I think he does not have good feelings towards the people of the state and the country and if work is being done to strengthen it, then we will appreciate it…” he said.
Recently, heinous crime incidents like murders, rapes and gang rapes happened here in Bihar, especially in Patna. On Friday, a female candidate of the Home Guard was gang raped by two men in an ambulance in Gaya. In the last 30 days, a dreaded gangster, Chandan Mishra, was gunned down by five armed men inside the high-profile Paras Hospital in Patna.
Famous industrialist Gopal Khemka was gunned down outside his residence in Patna, a sand trader Ramakant Yadav was murdered in Dulhin Bazar, Patna, a grocery trader Vikram Jha was killed in Patna and many other incidents.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) is a junior NDA partner in the state. Mr Paswan has also intensified his attacks on Nitish Kumar after declaring that his party will contest all 243 seats in Bihar. The 42-year-old Union Minister announced that he would also contest the upcoming assembly polls.
“I want to take Bihar to new heights. I visualise a future in which our boys and girls will not need to go outside in search of greener pastures; rather, people from other states will come here in search of better education and employment opportunities,” said Paswan at a rally in Saran district on July 6.
