Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: Within days of the Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar divorced the BJP and joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to form a new ministry, the erstwhile alliance partner made a ridiculous claim that “jungle raj” has returned in Bihar and cited several incidents of crime to highlight that the law and order situation has deteriorated in the state in the last two days.
The BJP spokesman Sambit Patra on Friday held a press conference to claim that “disorder is spreading in the state at a fast pace. It will not be an exaggeration to say that ‘jungle raj’ returns to Bihar,” he said. The BJP alleged that “jungle raj” has returned to Bihar with the RJD-JD(U) government assuming power as it cited a string of murders and other crimes to attack the alliance.
He said several people, including journalists, have been killed and a temple priest was beheaded since the two parties joined hands to form the government after the Janata Dal (United) snapped ties with the saffron party. He also cited cases of sexual assault and the death of six persons in Chhapra after drinking spurious liquor. The party, however, had maintained a studied silence when 39 people lost their lives in BJP-ruled Gujarat recently by consuming spurious liquor.
The BJP has associated the RJD rule in Bihar with ‘jungle raj’ (lawlessness). Patra claimed that the BJP’s presence in the government earlier worked as a restraining influence on crime even though the party did not have home or excise departments.
Nitish Kumar, however, continued to e hounded by the media if he would become the opposition prime ministerial candidate to challenge the NDA’s Narendra Modi in the 2024 elections. Like in the last few days, Kumar maintained that he did not harbour any such ambitions though he said he would play a positive role to try to unite all the opposition parties against the BJP.
“Please do not ask me such questions, I have said many times that I harbour no such ambitions. I want to serve my state,” Kumar asserted, with folded hands, replying to journalists who asked whether the people of Bihar could one day see him as the prime minister.
However, when asked what role he saw for himself in forging unity among disjointed opposition parties, Kumar said, “Our role will be positive. I have been receiving many telephone calls. It is my wish that all come together (against the BJP-led NDA). You will see some action in the days to come.”
His party, however, was more forthcoming. “We’ve said Nitish Kumar is not PM contender, but he has all qualities needed to become PM,” said JDU president Rajiv Ranjan Singh. “Once the new Bihar government starts functioning, we’ll go to Delhi meet Opposition leaders to arrive at consensus for a fight against the BJP across India,” he said. His deputy Tejashwi Yadav had also stated on Thursday that “Nitishji is a prime ministerial material” and that “If Modi can become the prime minister, anyone else can also be.”
But Kumar continued to disagree. Folding his hands on being again questioned about being the PM candidate he said, “It’s not on my mind. No matter what people say, even if people close to me say it,” he said, adding that it would be great if all Opposition parties work together and his job is to try to ensure that. All of us will talk about issues of the people and how we can have a better societal environment, he added.
On being asked if his government would fulfill the promise made by Tejashwi Yadav of providing 10 lakh jobs, Kumar said that efforts will be made in that direction. “It is right. We are making efforts and we will try our best…What he has said is right. All efforts will be made for it,” Kumar said.
Kumar also made light of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate being misused against the new dispensation in Bihar, which has achieved power after ousting the BJP, and said “those habituated to misuse will face public ire.”
To a query about the fear of ED and CBI being unleashed on the new ruling dispensation, he said, “I have no such fears. Remember one thing, even if a habit has been formed of misuse (of agencies), those indulging in the same will be closely watched by the people.”
Tejashwi Yadav described Nitish Kumar’s return to the “socialist family” as a “slap in the face of the BJP.” He said the BJP’s attempt to “intimidate or buy out” regional parties was aimed at “finishing off the politics of backward classes and Dalits”, because most such parties represent such sections of society. The RJD leader was speaking to the media in Delhi after meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. He met Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja before that.