Patna: Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad of trying to divide the society by “indulging in caste politics” and asked NDA supporters to rise above it.
”Kumar and Prasad both are indulging in caste politics. They are fanning the fire of casteism with various means including their language and at the expense of jailed MLA Anant Singh. People should be aware of this,” Union Food, Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs Minister said.
Union Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Ram Kripal Yadav and senior BJP leader of Bihar Sushil Kumar Modi attacked the two in a public meeting here to canvass support for NDA candidates for the July 7 Legislative Council polls.
Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president urged supporters of all NDA constituents to ensure victory of all 24 candidates by putting up a united front ignoring differences based on caste and religion.
“It's time to leave caste and religion behind. How long will you rule on this basis,” Paswan asked.
Charging Kumar and Prasad with hypocrisy, he alleged that Prasad asks the poor to travel on ‘tamtam' (light single-horse drawn carriage) but keeps 25 a/c vehicles at his residence for himself.
“Kumar talks much about development but failed to build even two bridges on the Ganga in 10 years while the existing ones are in dilapidated condition,” Paswan added.
Paswan also claimed that 90 per cent criminals of Bihar originated between 1978 and 2000, when panchayat, municipality and corporation polls had not been held.
MLCs will be elected by representatives of panchayats and urban local self-government institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leader and former deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said winning the Council poll will go a long run in the state's development.
“Majority in the Assembly is needed to form the government, but a majority in the Council will ensure that all the bills brought by our government for better development of the state will get easily passed,” Modi said.
He also accused the state government machinery of terrorising local self-government representatives to vote in favour of candidates of JD(U), RJD, Congress and NCP combine.
”I have specific reports about local Station House Officers, Block Development Officers and other administrative officials threatening local self-government representatives and asking them to vote for the candidates of the ruling combine,” Sushil Modi alleged.
”We are going to complain about it to the district administration, as well as, the Election Commission,” Modi added.
Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ram Kripal Yadav said victory of NDA candidates was certain in the Council polls as the MLCs belonging to the ruling combine did not do anything in their constituencies.
”Each of them is allotted Rs 2 crore per year for development in their constituency, but they all chose not to spend any money over the last 12 years,” Yadav said.
Ram Kripal also lambasted Kumar as “the most selfish leader” in the country who shook hands with his bete noire Prasad “for the sake of power”.
