(Bihar Times): Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday found himself neck-deep in the Urdu controversy. He was present at a function organized in memory of former speaker and the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, late Ghulam Sarwar.

He was supposed to announce January 10, Sarwar’s birthday, as  the Urdu Day; however, was forced not to do so not by the opposition leaders but by his own trusted partymen. They vociferously opposed the move. The former chief minister, Dr Jagannath Mishra, openly came out against the proposal a day before the programme and when the function actually started his supporters demanded that instead November 19 be declared as the Urdu Day.

Nitish managed to play safe. The chief minister showered praise on Sarwar, though while alive the latter was a close ally of bete noire, Lalu Yadav, who used to address him as Chacha.

The problem with Nitish is that he has, of late, started playing too many Muslim cards––and all out of sudden. This is bound to have a detrimental impact. He failed to realize that before Lalu Yadav became the darling of Muslims, it was Dr Jagannath Mishra who used to be addressed as ‘Maulana’ by a section of Urdu-lovers. Now he wants to regain that lost support and would never allow Nitish to ignore him.

Sarwar’s past continues to haunt many living politicians. He was staunchly anti-Congress throughout his life and was no friend of Jagannath Mishra––who was always a Congressman till the charm of power forced him to switch side.

In fact Sarwar was even opposed to Nitish’s brand of politics and stood solidly behind Lalu, though at times he was vocal enough to criticize him.

But his son-in-law, Dr Ejaz Ali, went the other way. Just after the demolition of Babri Masjid he formed Backward Muslim Morcha to press for the demand of the backward among Muslims. Later he started espousing the cause of the Dalit Muslims and seeks amendment in Article 341 of the Indian Constitution. He now runs All India United Muslim Morcha.

Sarwar never indulged in the backward-forward politics, but remained confined to the cause of Urdu. It was on Sarwar’s consent that Lalu Yadav made his nephew, Ghulam Ghouse, an MLC and ignored Dr Ejaz Ali.

Another close lieutenant of Dr Ali, Hindi journalist Ali Anwar, was made the member of the Backward Class Commission by him. Dr Ali found himself left high and dry though he still enjoyed support of a section of the backward class Muslims.

Ali Anwar drifted close to Nitish sometimes before the assembly election of 2005. He had already dissociated himself with Dr Ali. Ali Anwar was duly rewarded by the chief minister. He was made the member of the Rajya Sabha. Since Ali Anwar broke away from Dr Ejaz Ali to form his Pasmanda Muslim Mahaz and there was a bitter struggle between the both former friends, Dr Ali on the eve of 2005 assembly election declared support for the RJD. This was for the first time that he came so openly in favour of Lalu.

But when Lalu’s party lost Dr Ali once again found himself stranded in the middle of the political pitch. He was forced to re-chalk out his strategy and a new outfit, Ghulam Sarwar Himayati Front, was floated. A function was organized on October 17 last on the occasion of his death anniversary. That was for the first time that Dr Ali and Ali Anwar found themselves in the same political boat, the Janata Dal (United).

But by then Ali Anwar had gone much ahead. Dr Ali started playing the Urdu politics to win back support. But to his utter dismay he observed that this political space was occupied by Dr Mishra’s men in the party. Nitish sensed trouble and instead of making any big announcement on Urdu went on to make some assurance to Dalit Muslims.

In politics sometimes having too many friends proves as harmful as too many enemies. Having Dr Ejaz Ali, Ali Anwar, Dr Jagannath Mishra and hosts of others in the same jam-packed dilapidated Urdu boat amounts to having tiger and sheep on the same vessel. The fight is now to prove as to who actually is the tiger.