Patna, (Bihar Times): The Lok Janshakti Party leader, Ram Vilas Paswan, still considers railway minister, Lalu Yadav, who in fact is his cabinet colleague, a bigger political rival and threat than chief minister, Nitish Kumar.
Addressing the Sankalp Rally at Gandhi Maidan in
Patna on Wednesday afternoon he spent more time
criticizing the Rashtriya Janata Dal and its 15 years
rule than the present National Democratic Alliance
government in the state. It would be premature to say
whether it was a part of his strategy or just a case
of ‘old habits die hard’. However, he made it clear
that his party would not approach anyone for alliance
in the parliamentary and assembly election next time.
Paswan, who appeared upset over the constitution of
Maha Dalit Commission and its interim recommendations
asked as to who is preventing the government from
initiating developmental work for the Dalits. “How
many developmental works have the present government
undertaken for the development of Doms (Scavengers),
Mehtars, Musahars and Bhuinyans? Why are they not
constituting the SC-ST Commission?” he thundered.
Taking a dig at Lalu he asked as to where have those
people gone who used to talk about the development of
those rearing pigs (suar palne wale). Where have all
the Charwaha Vidyalaya gone? He said that the people
have tested the 15 years of Lalu-Rabri regime and two
years of Nitish Kumar, Where is the development? He
hit out at the Nitish government for the urea crisis
in Bihar.
The Union steel and fertilizer ministers counted down
the number of developmental works he initiated in
different capacity as the minister in the last one
decade. Paswan recounted as to how he projected a
Muslim as the candidate for the post of chief minister
in 2005. However, he did not make the similar offer
today but urged the people to trust on his party this
time.
Citing the poor law and order situation he said that
the present state government would collapse under the
weight of its own contradiction. The LJP leader was
all praise for the party MP, Suraj Bhan, the main
accused in additional public prosecutor murder case in
Begusarai.
However critical Paswan may be of Lalu, in one thing at least he imitated his cabinet colleague. Like Lalu, who introduced his cricketer son the LJP leader too introduced his film-star son, Chirag and asked him to say Namaste to the people. However, unlike Lalu he did not say that his son would never join politics.
The rally was big, but not as big as the one which
took place exactly a month ago at this very spot.
There was mismanagement and clash between police and
LJP supporters who wanted to enter the protected area.
Many of those brought from far and wide criticized the
organizers for not providing food to them.