Post riots, Nitish’s vow to keep divisive forces at bay under Opp flak

The recent communal clashes in over half a dozen towns before, during and after Ram Navami in Bihar have placed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in a tight spot.

After repeatedly claiming he will pay any price but not compromise with communal forces, a visibly tensed Nitish on Saturday visited Sufi shrine Khanqah Munamia, Mitan Ghat in the walled city of Patna where he joined the community prayers and dua led by Maulana Shamim Ahmed Munami for peace and social harmony in Bihar. 

The eight months short period of re-alignment with the BJP after Nitish broke away from the Mahagathbandhan has come under test and questions are being asked how long someone like Nitish, who is so conscious of his image, will watch spread of communal violence across the State.

Rumours are flying thick and fast in the surcharged political atmosphere of Bihar that the violent incidents, in which involvement of some senior BJP leaders is alleged, have strained relations between the ruling allies JD(U) and BJP particularly after many senior BJP  leaders came to defend Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey’s son Arjit Shaswat.

On March 17, the junior Choubey had led an unauthorised religious procession in communally sensitive Bhagalpur which resulted in clashes and police filed an FIR against him and other. A court also issued  warrant of arrest against Arjit.. This enraged Choubey and Arjit went underground to escape arrest.

Later communal clashes erupted in Aurangabad. The main accused associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) either slipped out of police custody or was allowed to escape. In the background of these developments, Nitish is keeping a stony silence on the social situation and reviewing preparation how to stop violence with top officials. But the Opposition is not convinced with his action and has accused him of surrendering before the communal forces and compromising with his secular image. Some leaders of Mahagathbandhan are also asking  him to break ties with the BJP and return to the fold.

HAM founder Jitan Ram Manjhi who joined the grand alliance only a month back said if Nitish wanted to come back to the Mahagathbandhan he would be given due consideration.

Earlier Bihar Congress acting president Kaukab Qadri said Nitish should safeguard his secular image by severing alliance with the BJP.

However, there is no such word from major party of the grand alliance the RJD whose top leaders are still spewing fire against Nitish.

Political observers pointed out that during 2005 and 2012 NDA Government, Bihar was not hit with communal incidents and all religious festivals had passed off peacefully. Even in October last,  Muharram and Dussehra went off without any clash.

It has been widely reported  that just before Ram Navami swords were brought from outside Bihar and were distributed in urban and rural areas to be displayed during the processions. Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav demanded that this should be probed at highest level and suspected that swords were imported under a conspiracy to create communal strife in otherwise peaceful Bihar.