Nitish’s chain of obsession––how humane and how political?
Patna,(BiharTimes): A former admirer of chief minister Nitish Kumar, while talking to BiharTimes, on condition of anonymity commented: “Nitish always has obsession for something. Once it was Bihar Diwas, then special category status, now it is prohibition. He would leave no stone unturned and mobilise all its resources to achieve his goal. It is other thing that the state could not get special category status. But he tries to make a political capital out of his obsession.”
It is other thing that the demand for special category status did not face legal roadblock as did the prohibition and subsequently human chain.
There is another irony. While the BJP was in alliance with the JD(U) then it was not taken into confidence by Nitish on the special category status nor was the saffron party leaders invited in any big rally organized either in Patna or Delhi to demand the special category status.
In contrast today the BJP is the main opposition party in Bihar, yet it is supporting the human chain.
Till recently the state BJP was opposed to the Draconian provision in the new excise policy, but PM Narendra Modi’s January 5 appreciation for prohibition in Bihar compelled the state unit of the party to soften its stand a bit and join human chain.
But former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi continues to be critical and has repeatedly demanded the postponement of human chain because of the Jan 14 boat disaster.
Nitish was quick to corner SuMo by asking why Prime Minister Modi did not cancelled his political rally in Agra on November 20 just hours after the horrific train accident involving Indore-Patna Express.
“I cancelled my report card presentation programme though fewer number of people from Bihar died in it. But BJP did not cancel PM’s political programme just hours after the train disaster,” he asked.
SuMo might have been silenced, but critics like lawyer Shashi Bhushan filed a PIL protesting against the blockade of National Highways and State Highways and involvement of school children in human chain.
Shashi Bhushan is not alone. There is a large number of people who say that the cause Nitish is championing is no doubt noble, but it is not appropriate to blck the movement of traffic in the entire state for five or six hours.
After successfully organizing Prakash Utsav and Kalchakra Puja the state machinery is involved in organizing human chain. Then in April the centenary celebration of Champaran movement would be held.
However, there are people who do not fully endorse blockade of NHs and SHs, but fully back the campaign like human chain. And at the same time forcing schools to let their children be a part of the human chain to support prohibition proving hard to digest even for the common people people of the state.
"Govt is threatening school going students to participate in human chain otherwise will not be given govt benefits" alleged senior BJP leader Sushil Modi referring letters issued by government officials to school Principals.
“True human chain will create problem. Yet a greater social cause is involved. But it is at least better than chopping off hundreds of trees to organize a Narendra Modi rally on the eve of the 2015 Assembly election. Yet nobody took that matter to the court,” said a pro-liquor ban activist..
There is another irony. While the BJP was in alliance with the JD(U) then it was not taken into confidence by Nitish on the special category status nor was the saffron party leaders invited in any big rally organized either in Patna or Delhi to demand the special category status.