Knives out between allies BJP, JD-U

Over 300 policemen were standing as mute spectators when BJP office at Madhepura was attacked... It does not augur well for all

SANJAY JAISWAL,

Bihar BJP president

PATNA: The simmering tension between the two ruling allies in Bihar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata DalUnited (JD-U), flared up on Saturday amid the ongoing violent protests against the new shortterm recruitment policy for entry into the armed forces, during which top BJP leaders were targeted by the agitators who also burnt down party offices in several places across the state.

BJP’s state president and West Champaran MP Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, whose house at Bettiah was vandalised on Friday, raised serious questions on the working of the police administration, a department directly under CM Kumar, while JD-U countered him saying he is “not balanced”.

“In the entire state, people associated with BJP and its offices were targeted while the administration and police watched silently,” Jaiswal said at a press conference in Patna. “Over 300 policemen were standing as mute spectators when BJP office at Madhepura was attacked. What action has been taken against policemen? What happened in Bihar has not happened elsewhere in nation. We are also part of the government. As the president of state BJP, I oppose this. If such things happen, it does not augur well for all,” he warned.

Jaiswal also asked JD-U to explain its opposition to the new recruitment policy Agnipath. “What are they opposing about the new scheme? They should say clearly. Then only a discussion can be held,” he said.

“The entire violence was planned and BJP offices were targeted in a planned manner,” Jaiswal alleged.

On Friday, the protesters had attacked the house of deputy CM and BJP leader Renu Devi and Jaiswal in Bettiah and the house of Chapra MLA C N Gupta. They had also attacked BJP MLAs Aruna Devi and Binay Bihari, besides vandalising party offices at Nawada, Madhepura and Sasaram.

Responding to Jaiswal’s allegations, JD-U national president Lalan Singh asked BJP not to teach Nitish Kumar on governance. “Kumar is known for good governance and he knows how to run the government,” he said at a press conference in the state capital.

Laughing off the allegations about targeting BJP leaders, Singh said, “Why will the administration put BJP offices on fire. Agitations are also taking place in BJP-ruled states. Are they using force to suppress it?” he said.

“Such allegations show he (Jaiswal) is not balanced,” Singh said.

JD-U parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha said, “One should ignore his (Jaiswal’s) comments. He is in the habit of making such remarks.” On Thursday, senior JD-U leaders had demanded that the Centre have a rethink at the new recruitment policy.