Tarakant embarrasses JD(U) with pro-Narendra Modi comment

Patna,(BiharTimes): The Janata Dal (United) faced an embarrassment of a sort when the former state BJP chief, Tarakant Jha, while joining the party did not mince words to say that he still abides by the ‘vichar dhara’ (ideology) of the RSS as he has been Swamsevak since his childhood days. “No I have not left its vichar dhara”, he told the mediapersons at Janata Dal (United) office on Wednesday afternoon.

Not only that he showered praise on Narendra Modi while comparing him with Sushil Modi. “Kahan hain Sushil Modi and Kahan hain Narendra Modi,” was how he reacted to a pointed question by a reporter.
Perhaps he did did not realize that he is in the JD(U) office when he said his choice for the post of prime minister is Narendra Modi. Though some JD(U) leaders present on the occasion dropped enough hint to convey to him to take a different line yet the old and seasoned politician took no notice of it.

Talking to the media after joining the Janata Dal (United) he said that he had left the BJP as he wanted to get rid of Sushil Kumar Modi and not Narendra Modi.

He replied this when the media asked on his relationship with the RSS and his view on Narendra Modi.

As reported the oldest member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar resigned from the primary membership of the party and joined the Janata Dal (United).

He was the chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council till 2012 and served as the state BJP chief between 1990 and 1992.

He accused the former deputy chief minister and senior party leader, Sushil Kumar Modi, and others for not giving respect though “I am the oldest member of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar”.

“Samman nahin mila” (I did not get respect), he told the media.

He was associated with the Sangh parivar ever since the formation of Bharatiya Jan Sangh (the earlier version of the BJP) in early 1950s.

Jha, a senior advocate of the Patna high court, played a key role in bringing the BJP to this stage. He was the state party chief in the early 1990s during the high time of Ram Janambhoomi movement. Yet the denial of Council re-nomination in 2012, when he was still its Chairman, disappointed him. Party sources then said that his proximity to chief minister Nitish Kumar prompted the party to drop him. However, Jha then accused the party leaders of ignoring him even when his wife was seriously ill. It was the chief minister who paid a visit to his home then.

Incidentally, both the BJP and Janata Dal (United) were in the National Democratic Alliance then.

Earlier on Wednesday he called on Nitish Kumar at his residence to join the Janata Dal (United). He went to the party office later.

Interestingly, in 2012 the party made Mangal Pandey the member of Council and a few months later in 2013 he was made the state party chief.

On the other hand Sushil Modi hoped that Tara Babu would soon return to the BJP fold as he can never adjust himself with Nitish Kumar. Modi said that it was he who brought Tara Babu back into the party fold in 2005 (after he left once earlier too). He is a buzurg (old and respected) leader of the Sangh Parivar who would never fit in any other place.

He said somebody has misguided him. “Tara babu kahin jane wale nahin hai”. (He can not remain away for long).

The former deputy CM apologize to Tarakant Jha if he had hurt the feeling.

Commenting on Tarakant Jha’s remarks the media incharge of the Bihar Congress, Prem Chandra Mishra, said that the JD(U) stands exposed by inducting into the party a hardcore RSS man only a day after the chief minister Nitish Kumar, while speaking in the Bihar Assembly, said that he would perish rather than go back to join hands with the BJP.

Meanwhile, former JD(U) MLC, Prof Chandrama Singh, along with his supporters, joined the BJP on Wednesday afternoon.