Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, October 15
None of the family members of Jayaprakash Narayan, fondly known as JP, were allowed to join his birth anniversary celebrations at his birth place, Sitab Diara in Saran district on October 11.
Even his closest surviving cousin was prevented from attending the function in presence of the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. JDU spokesman and former MLC, Ranbir Nandan on Saturday claimed family members of JP had said the district magistrate of Saran had issued a special pass for Ms Subhadra Verma (85), widow of cousin of JP, Bimla Charan Verma for attending the celebrations, but she too was not allowed to go to the venue.
The BJP leaders had lunch at the residence of JP, but there too none of his family members could get access.
Ranbir regretted the platform to celebrate the JP birth anniversary was used as an election campaign against the chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar only. Home Minister did not talk of JP, ideas and ideals of the Sarvodaya leader, but made only derogatory remarks against Nitish Kumar, who was an activist during the JP led movement.
Ranbir said, “When Nitish Kumar was a senior student leader during the movement, Amit Shah was a child. He knows nothing about the contributions of JP”. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar while speaking at a programme on JP birth day here at Bapu Sabhaghar, recalled days of total revolution and his contributions in restoring democracy, he did not talk against the BJP or its leaders.
