BJP, grand alliance indulge in blame game on communal clashes in Bihar

Patna: The BJP-led Opposition created a ruckus in the Bihar Assembly on Monday over the violence in Nalanda and Sasaram that began around Ram Navami. BJP members held placards and shouted slogans against chief minister Nitish Kumar and the Grand Alliance government for its failure in controlling the law and order situation in the affected areas.

Earlier, Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav had expressed his concerns over the situation in Bihar and accused the BJP of “spreading rumors to disrupt peace and harmony in the state”. He said that the state government was keeping a close tab on the situation and “taking all possible steps to identify the miscreants”. Mr Yadav said the BJP and RSS were trying to create an “atmosphere of fear in the state”.

“The Bihar government is keeping a close watch on Sanghis’ attempts to disturb harmony in the state. The BJP tries to create panic wherever they are weak. Steps are being taken to identify and initiate stringent action against the miscreants. We have always given a befitting reply to the BJP’s experiment to break brotherhood”, Mr Tejashwi Yadav said in a tweet.

The Bihar government has been facing an intensified attack from the BJP after communal clashes erupted in Nalanda and Sasaram during the Ram Navami processions last week.

In a fresh spurt of violence, a youth was killed in Bihar Sharif on Saturday and several others were reportedly injured in both districts. The police has so far arrested over 150 persons in both districts.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who was in Bihar for a two-day trip on Sunday, had charged Nitish Kumar and his allies over their failure to control the law and order situation in Nalanda and Sasaram. The BJP had earlier cancelled Mr Shah’s Sasaram trip where he was due to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of Samrat Ashok and address a public meeting.

Mr Shah, during his speech in Nawada on Sunday, had said that “the rioters will be hanged upside down” if the BJP returns to power in the 2025 Assembly elections. He also spoke to Bihar governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar over the issue ahead of his rally.

Amid the blame game over the violent clashes in Bihar, JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh on Monday said “the BJP has lost its credibility due to its false promises. The promises made to the people before elections are being termed as jumlas”.

Mr Singh also took a dig at the Union home minister and the Central government for “avoiding discussions on issues like inflation and unemployment”, and said “no questions are being raised on the Rs 81,000-crore corporate scam”.