Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, September 16
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has his sixth visit to Bihar in a year, on Saturday cautioned the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar against RJD President Lalu Prasad.
He made an open comment and alleged Lalu was in alliance with Nitish for his selfish ends to make his son Chief Minister of the state.
Addressing a public meeting at Jhanjharpur, 200 km north from here, Amit Shah was quite harsh on Lalu and soft on Nitish. Unlike his previous speeches at Purnia and Valmikinagar, Amit Shah did not say doors of NDA was closed for Nitish.
On September 9, Bihar Chief Minister had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during G20 dinner. Since then, Nitish had been soft on Narendra Modi too. Even BJP leaders in Bihar are aggressive on Lalu for the last one week.
Amit Shah alleged the name of the UPA was changed to INDIA to cover up the corruption during the ten years of UPA government in which Lalu Prasad was a partner. Lalu indulged in massive corruption in the Railway Ministry, Shah said. Home Minister claimed Lalu Prasad as a minister in UPA had opposed construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and also scrapping of the 370 of the Constitution.
Advising Nitish to keep away from Lalu Prasad, Home Minister said RJD-JDU alliance was like adulteration of oil with water and warned Nitish oil will contaminate water only. He described Nitish as water and Lalu as oil. ” Lalu aapko Duba dega, Gathbandhan aapko Kha Jayegaa (Lalu will sink you),” he cautioned Nitish.
He alleged the Bihar government had scrapped holidays in schools during Hindu festivals-Janmashtami and Rakasha Bandhan, but had to restore it following strong protests from the BJP.
Describing the RJD-JDU government as Jungle Raj, Home Minister said if this alliance was allowed to regain power, there would be large scale intrusion in the Seemanchal areas, bordering Bangladesh. Sand and liquor mafia would get encouragement, he feared. Seemanchal constituencies are dominated by Muslim voters.
He listed contributions of the NDA government in development of North Bihar and claimed Darbhanga airport and AIIMS at Darbhanga have been developed. He regretted Bihar government could not allow suitable land for the AIIMS at Darbhanga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted the Mithlla painting and ancient Nalanda University at the G20 Summit, Shah said and appealed to the electorate to ensure 40 seats to BJP in the next year’s Lok Sabha elections.
Shah on Saturday joined NDA leaders in condemning the Bihar Education Minister, Chandrashekhar Yadav for his defamatory comments against Ram Charit Manas. Addressing a public meeting at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district, birth place of Sita, Home Minister said abusive languages had been used against the Holy book-Ramcharit Manas, deliberately with obvious reason to appease members of a particular community.
He said the RJD President, Lalu Prasad has now become very active making the Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar inactive. Education minister is from RJD quota.
Chandra Shekhar while speaking at an official programme on the occasion of Hindi Diwas here described Ram Charit Manas was like potassium cyanide. It spread hatred in the society.
At another programme to celebrate, the Education Minister had described Prophet Mohammad as Maryada Purushottam while condemning Ram Charit Manas. On January 12, while addressing the annual convocation Nalanda Open University. education minister had asked the students to boycott Ramcharit Manas that spread hatred in the society and preached against the downtrodden and women.
In January, the Chief Minister had summoned the Education Minister and directed him to retract his statement against Ram Charit Manas and apologise for hurting the sentiments of the people.
Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Sushil Kumar Modi today demanded resignation of the minister and suggested the Governor should dismiss him for constantly hurting the Hindu sentiments and his hate speeches. He should be tried for hate speeches, Modi said and wondered if Chandrashekhar could speak against non-Hindu religious books.BJP leader predicted the prophetic Cyanide remark would prove cyanide for the RJD in the next elections.
On Saturday, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, regretted the statement of his minister and said he has asked Chandra Shekhar to concentrate on the working of his department and avoid speaking against the Manas. “We are governed by our Constitution, which respected all religions groups”, Tejashwi said.
In the last fortnight, Lalu Prasad had worshipped at five temples from Thawe in Gopalganj district to Sidho Vinayak in Mumbai. He had offered prayers at two historic Shiva temples at Harihar Nath and Baidyanath too last week, but his minister spoke against Ram.
JDU spokesman, Abhisek Jha, reacted to the education minister’s statement and suggested, “Those who feel Ramcharit Manas is potassium cyanide should taste it.”
In separate statements, LJP and HAM(S) parties also criticised the minister for his anti-Ramcharit Manas remarks and advised him to withdraw his comments.
