JD(U) leader questions Nitish on BJP tie-up in Delhi elections

NEW DELHI: Janata Dal (United) leader Pavan K Varma has written to chief minister Nitish Kumar seeking clarity on the party’s relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party and also on the Citizenship Amendment Act, following its decision to contest elections in Delhi in alliance with the BJP.

He said the alliance in Delhi would mark the first instance in recent times when the JD (U) has broadened its association with the BJP beyond Bihar. Varma said he was “deeply perplexed” by this development and looks to Kumar for ideological clarity. In his letter, he also reminded Kumar about his past concerns about the BJP. “On more than one occasion, you have expressed your grave apprehensions about the BJP-RSS combine.”

JD (U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar hit out at Varma, saying: “Nitish Kumar does not require any certificate from anyone to prove his secular credentials.”

In the two-page letter he also put out on Twitter, Varma quoted from his private conversations with Kumar and said the latter had mentioned to him that the

BJP’S policies were inimical to the country’s interests and were leading India into a “dangerous space”. “When you [Kumar] were leading the Mahagathbandhan [grand alliance], you openly made a call for Rss-mukt Bharat [Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh free India],” he said.

“... I remember your confessing to me in private how the current leadership in the BJP party has humiliated you.”

“If these are your real views, I fail to understand how the JD (U) is now extending its alliance with the BJP beyond Bihar, when even long-standing allies of the BJP, like the Akali Dal, have refused to do so.”

The Shiromani Akali Dal has decided not to contest the Delhi elections. The party, part of the NDA, has said its ideological position is that CAA, restricted to non-muslims, should be expanded to all religions. Varma said the BJP has embarked on a socially-divisive agenda aimed at “mutilating peace and harmony” of the country through the combination of the Citizen (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Varma separately told HT he wrote the letter to seek ideological clarity when the alliance was expanding for the first time outside Bihar. “When we rejoined the BJP in 2017, he [Kumar] expressed his reservations and so I am seeking clarity about our party’s position and whether it is in harmony with our constitution. Is the expansion of the relationship warranted?’’

BJP spokesperson Nitish Anand dismissed Varma’s statement, saying: “The alliance shows greater compatibility between the JD-U and the BJP. It also gives the NDA conviction that it will repeat the LS performance in the assembly polls also later in the year. Once there is greater understanding at the top, all issues are smoothly taken care of. Some off statements don’t make a difference...”

NEWDELHI: The Congress on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah of “spreading nine lies” about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), saying the link between the two cannot be denied.

“Their (Modi and Shah) first lie is that CAA is not discriminatory. The Constitution has five provisions for citizenship of India and religion is not mentioned anywhere. The Citizenship Act of 1955 also contains the same provisions,” senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said. “Their second lie is that CAA has no connection with NRC. In April 2019, Shah said CAB will come first, followed by NRC... Third lie — Modi said on December 22, 2019 that there was no discussion on NRC... in the President’s address to Parliament on June 20, the NRC implementation was announced.”

“Fourth lie — The process of NRC was neither notified nor is it legal... when NRC was adopted in 2003, Article 14 (a) mentions it as being legal... Fifth lie - NRC is yet to begin. NRC commencement notification has been issued effective April 1.” “Sixth lie – National Population Register (NPR) has no relation with NRC. The home ministry’s report 2018-19 stated that ‘NPR is the first step to implement NRC’. Seventh lie — No Indian needs to be scared. Family members of ex-president Fakhruddin wasn’t named in NRC...”

“Eighth lie — Modi said that there is no detention centre in the country... 988 people are imprisoned in 6 detention centres in Assam alone... And the ninth lie no force was used against demonstrators. 28 people died in UP alone... The BJP government is lying,” alleged Sibal.

I fail to understand how the JD (U) is now extending its alliance with the BJP... when even longstanding allies... like the Akali Dal, have refused. PAVAN K VARMA , JD(U) leader