Union Minister for Consumer Affairs and Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) president Ramvilas Paswan on Monday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to the provocative statements of the right-wing Hindutva and Islamist organisations, saying they were distracting the BJP-led government from its agenda of development.
“The more we talk about them, the more publicity they get. The statements of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Owaisi brothers are contrary to the agenda of development. It is good that our PM is not reacting to any of them. Mr. Modi must not divert his attention by reacting to this,” he said. Mr. Paswan was here to attend the meeting of the Bureau of Indian Standards (Western Region).Referring to BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj’s statement that all Hindus should have four children, Mr. Paswan said he became big because everyone reacted to it. “I would prefer not to comment on any such statement. I will talk only about development,” the Minister said.
Mr. Paswan said the union of Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav brought “jungle raj” back to Bihar. “The communal clashes in Muzaffarpur were indicative of the deteriorating law and order situation. The government took no measure to curb the violence. This government should be dismissed and fresh Assembly polls held as soon as possible.”
Alleging a rift between Mr. Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, Mr. Paswan said: “Nitish Kumar is not letting a Mahadalit Chief Minister work freely. The Chief Minister is a good person but he is being insulted by his Ministers.”
