The Shiv Sena, one of the NDA constituents at the Centre and a ruling saffron ally in the State, on Wednesday took strong exception to the BJP targeting the Nitish Kumar Government over the “deteriorating” law and situation in his State, saying that the concept of ‘jungle raj’ had no place in democracy and that Bihar-like situation prevailed in other States as well.
Coming out in strong defence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Shiv Sena — in an editorial published in its official mouth-piece “Saamana” — said that the efforts to the bogey of “Jungle Raj” raised by the BJP against Bihar was unwarranted and that the effort to weaken a State Government led by parties that were ideologically different was not a sign of a healthy democracy.
“There is no place for ‘Jungle Raj’ in democracy. ‘Jungle Raj’ does not originate from ballot box. In fact, ballot box helps eliminate ‘Jungle Raj’. If there is indeed “Jungle Raj” in Bihar, the people in the State are capable of throwing out ‘Jungle Raj’. The people of Bihar acted wisely in the Assembly polls and they will continue to be wise in their approach. If there is ‘Jungle Raj’, what about other StatesIJ,” the Sena editorial asked.
Taking exception to the manner in which the BJP has gone after the Nitish Kumar Government on “Jungle Raj” issue, the “Saamana” editorial stated, “After the murder of journalist in Siwan district on Friday last, the atmosphere has vitiated in Bihar. Apart from alleging that the law and order has broken down in Bihar, the BJP is attacking the Nitish Kumar Government saying that following the recent incident, “Jungle Raj” has returned to Bihar”
“The question that arises now is, Did the people of Bihar vote the Mahaghatbandan, led by Nitish Kumar and lalu Prasad Yadav, to power to usher in ‘Jungle Raj’. Why did the people of Bihar elect the Nitish-lalu Government despite the vociferous ‘Jungle Raj’ campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders. The people of Bihar have voted for them using their intelligence and if they feel that the present regime is not right, they would overthrow them,” the Sena mouth-piece stated.
Maintaining that it was incorrect to say that RsJungle Raj’ was prevailing in Bihar just because of some sporadic incidents, the Sena said that even in the BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana Madhya Pradesh and Samjawadi Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh.
“In a State like Uttar Pradesh, crimes like murder and kidnapping have become part and parcel of the lives of people. The crime like murder in Madhya Pradesh make it to the front pages of news papers regularly Why only Bihar, these kind of incidents keep happening in States Maharashtra and Haryana. Such crimes do happen in States. It is for the rulers of the States concerned to initiate measures to ensure against recurrence such incidents. The Opposition should raise these issues and bring pressure on the Government. But, the Opposition can not act in revengeful manner,” the Sena stated.
Citing the examples of the brutal murder of the relative of Hindutvavadi leader Pravin Togadia in Gujarat two days ago and the violence that broke during the Patidar reservation agitation, the Sena mouth-piece said, “How do you account for these two forms of violenceIJ It is not correct for us to say that there is ‘Jungle Raj’ just because of these incidents of violence”.
The Sena also cited an instance that took place in Dhule district of Maharashtra, where an Army jawan was killed publicly while trying to protect his cousin sister from being allegedly molested by a group of people. “If such a thing happened in Bihar, it would have been cited as instance of RsJungle Raj”. The Sena also cited the instance of the arrest a man claiming to be “personal assistant” of a senior BJP minister for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 30 crore near the state secretariat and the failure of the police to control the protestors during the recent Jat agitation.