As part of the ruling Janata Dal (United)’s State-wide agitation against the NDA government’s land acquisition Bill, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar went on a 24-hour fast on Saturday. The party leaders went on the fast across the State for 12 hours.
“This Bill is against farmers of the State and it is pro-corporate. We’ll continue protesting against it until it is withdrawn,” said Mr. Kumar. He also slammed the BJP government on its ‘Make in India’ campaign.
“Make in India should be make in villages, make in Bihar … it should not happen that industries come up in just one part of the country,” he told media persons.
At Nalanda, there was a minor scuffle between JD(U) and CPI(ML) workers. The CPI(ML) workers wanted to burn the effigy of Mr. Kumar at the fast venue.
At Dhamdaha in Purnia, JD(U) leader and Social Welfare Minister Lesi Singh fainted when she was sitting on the fast. Later, she was provided medical facilities.
The Congress too extended its support to the JD(U) in its protest against the land acquisition Bill.
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad would lead his party’s march from Patna’s Gandhi Maidan to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday in protest against the NDA government’s failure to keep its promises made during the Lok Sabha poll.
“What happened to all those tall promises the BJP leaders had made during the Parliamentary elections … we’ll raise all these issues during our Raj Bhavan march on Sunday,” he said.
Setting at rest speculation, the RJD chief said his party would not join the Nitish Kumar government.
“My party has joined hands with the JD(U) in Bihar to counter communal forces. They would contest the next Assembly polls together,” Mr. Prasad said.
