With the Bhartiya Janata Party leaders raising the issue of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s “Hindus too eat beef” statement at every poll meeting and incidents of idol defacement hitting the poll-bound Bihar, both Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Mr. Prasad have warned people that the BJP could play the communal card and disturb social harmony for its political advantage. Barely a week ahead of the first phase of polls on October 12, the BJP has apparently readied itself for the battle against its rivals.
“The BJP has gone into a panic mode… it is without any neta (leader), niti (policy) and niyat (intention). They will now make attempts to communalise the poll atmosphere and mask it with Narendra Modi’s rhetoric”, said Mr. Kumar, addressing public meetings in Bhagalpur and Sheikhpura on Tuesday.
“These people (BJP leaders), seeing a sure defeat, have no agenda and that’s why they have fallen back on their tested communal agenda”, Mr. Kumar. He asked, “where is the developmental agenda of the BJP?”
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He also asked the people to remain “alert” as there could be attempts by the BJP to create tension among communities in the State. “You (people) have to maintain peace and harmony at any cost. It is their (BJP’s) design to provoke you in order to reap (political) dividends”, he said.
Mr. Kumar also slammed Mr. Modi, stating that he had ditched everyone who had helped him to rise to the top post. “Veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani was sidelined by him. It was Advani who took the BJP from two seats to 82 seats (in the Lok Sabha)”, said Mr Kumar.
Similarly, his alliance partner, Mr. Prasad too appealed to the people to be cautious as it (BJP) could play the communal card in Bihar.
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“Be alert as I warn you over this… they (BJP) could go to any extent to disturb the communal harmony in the State”, Mr. Prasad said while addressing a public meeting.
The BJP had earlier raised Mr. Prasad’s “beef eating” statement and since then, has been playing it up in poll meetings.