Hitting hard at the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accused the Government of taking nation back to the Hitler’s fascism and breaking the country through its ‘divisive’ politics.
Speaking in the State Assembly on Saturday while replying to the motion of thanks on the Governor’s address for 100 minutes without interruption — thanks to the absence of entire opposition — he took on the Centre for its stand on JNU, Rohith Vemula’s suicide, HRD Minister Smriti Irani’s for raking up Mahishasur in her speech in the Parliament, and other issues like love Jihad, Ghar Wapsi, ban on beef, nationalism and mandatory hoisting of Tricolour in all universities.
“Having failed at economic front, this Government is raking up emotional and communal issues. They are talking about nationalism and hoisting of Tricolour in universities but they should tell what was their role in the freedom struggle and the making of Tricolour. Their ‘rashtrawad (nationalism) is only Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sanghwad and those dissenting are branded as anti-nationals,” said Nitish.
The Opposition boycotted the Assembly proceedings on Saturday saying the programme was changed at last minute and the proceedings scheduled for the Monday were forced on Saturday.
The CM clarified that changes were made at the meeting of the business advisory committee which was also attended by the leader of Opposition. He said changes were made to enable the legislators to watch the presentation of Union Budget in the Parliament. The Bihar Assembly and Council will remain shut on Monday.
“We want to know if Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will speak anything on the special package of Rs1.25 lakh crore announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Bihar Assembly polls,” the CM said.
Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi however, termed it the black day in the parliamentary history of Bihar by holding the session on a holiday. He said since this business was scheduled on Monday, Nitish got scared that because of the Union Budget that day his speech would not get space in the media so he advanced his address. “He should tell when in the past legislative session was suspended to watch the BudgetIJ In fact Nitish is the follower of this kind of democracy where there is no opposition,” said former Deputy CM.
In his reply, the CM said there was rule of law in the State and law and order situation fully under control. “Attempts are being made to create a perception about crime in Bihar by the Opposition. As per the date of the National Crime Record Bureau, Bihar registered 3.3 per cent murder per lakh population in 2014 and State stood at 12th position in the country in crime. Many BJP ruled States are far ahead of Bihar in crime. As compared to 3403 murders in 2014, 3178 murders took place in 2015,” Nitish claimed.
Referring to the non-arrest of RJD MlA Raj Ballabh Yadav, who is accused of raping a minor, the CM said that all attempts were being made by the police to nab him and once arrested law would take its own course through speedy trial. He said, “Nobody can save him from the long arms of the law. I have no pressure from any quarter. The opposition had been accusing us of jungle raj during the polls and now they are raking up this issue even on minor incidents. What happened in the Patiala House court was mangal rajIJ”