With Bihar taking the centerstage of violent protests towards the newly-announced ‘Agnipath’ scheme and protests concentrating on workplaces and prmises of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders within the state have reignited simmering tensions between the saffron celebration and its ally, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United.
Other than JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s opposition to the scheme, what has singed the BJP is his silence on the problem. The saffron celebration alleged that its alliance associate has not simply remained mum, but additionally didn’t instruct officers to take care of protestors.
A day after his home was attacked by protesters, Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal hit out on the administration for allegedly giving a free hand to rioters. He held the Nitish Kumar-led coalition authorities liable for what he termed as focused assaults on BJP leaders within the state. “When protestors attacked my house in Bettiah district on Friday, we called the fire brigade…they said fire tenders would come only if the local administration allows it,” a visibly upset Jaiswal instructed reporters.
The state BJP chief mentioned “targeting people at the behest of the administration and torching offices of a particular party with police as mute spectators are unacceptable”.
“We are part of the ruling alliance, but something like this has not happened anywhere in the country. It is happening only in Bihar. As a leader of the BJP, I condemn this incident and if this is not stopped, it won’t be good for anyone,” he mentioned.
Reacting to Jaiswal’s remark, JD(U)’s nationwide chief Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh, mentioned, “The central government took a decision. There are protests in other states too. Young people are concerned about their future, so they came out to protest. Of course violence is not the way. We can’t accept violence. But the BJP should also listen to what is worrying these young people and their concerns. Instead, the BJP is blaming the administration,” Ranjan mentioned in a video message.
“What has the administration got to do with all this? A frustrated BJP is blaming the administration over its inability to contain the anger of the agitators. Protests against this scheme are taking place in several BJP-ruled states also. Why is Jaiswal not talking about the inaction of security forces in BJP-ruled states ?” requested Singh.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi’s home and a number of other BJP workplaces had been additionally vandalised by the protesters on June 17.
Poll strategist Prashant Kishor jumped in too, saying the individuals of Bihar are dealing with the results of the tensions between the BJP and JDU. “Bihar is burning but instead of resolving the situation, leaders from both parties are busy slinging mud at each other and making accusations and counter accusations,” he tweeted in Hindi.
Making its displeasure with Kumar extra evident, the Union Home Ministry supplied Y-category safety to 10 leaders together with two Deputy Chief Ministers and a bunch of legislators within the state.
In a collection of press releases, the railways additionally categorically blamed the practice delays on the prevailing regulation and order downside and risk notion to railway property and passengers in Bihar. The alarming regulation and order state of affairs prompted the Railways to cancel a document variety of trains, bringing rail motion to a digital standstill for 3 consecutive days.
However, the BJP too has largely remained cautious in its response to the protests, particularly relating to dealing with of the state of affairs within the state. The BJP’s plan of motion to take care of rioters and keep regulation and order within the state has been feeble. This could be measured as compared with BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana the place the state governments have been taking fast and stern motion towards agitators, making arrests and demolishing properties of accused.
Lately, Nitish Kumar has been at odds with the BJP over a bunch of points, with the newest being on caste census, with the JD(U) chief saying the state would conduct its personal such train for the reason that Centre wouldn’t achieve this. In the in the meantime, he has been transferring nearer to the RJD with whom he has damaged and mended ties a number of instances up to now.
The two sides appeared to have settled for an uneasy equilibrium earlier than the fallout on Agnipath. Kumar stays ignorant to the BJP’s repeated demand of asserting a ten per cent reservation in recruitment in Bihar Police for Agniveers. For him , making the announcement will imply endorsing the central authorities’s scheme, which is able to finally invite anger and protests towards his personal celebration leaders.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”