Cong sends Nitish feelers on return
2 min readPatna: Buoyed by its victory in the Karnataka power battle, the Congress in Bihar has sent feelers to chief minister Nitish Kumar and his JDU to come back to its fold.
It has extended an invitation, though a veiled one, to them to return to the Grand Alliance fold, and also demanded a ban on the entry of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat into Bihar.
“The Karnataka win is a morale booster for secular parties, which are going to emerge victorious in the forthcoming elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh too. This will lead a break-up in the BJP-led NDA,” said Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra.
“If there is any secular-minded party in the NDA in Bihar, then this is the right time to read the people’s mandate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, and quit the alliance. We would say to such a party that if you are worried about social tension and harmony, then disassociate from them and save the country,” Mishra added.
Nitish, who also happens to be the JDU national president, with his secular credentials was part of the Grand Alliance that was formed in the run-up to the 2015 Assembly elections along with the RJD and the Congress to counter the BJP. Similarly, the chief minister, often in his public speeches, has expressed worry over deterioration in harmony and peace in the society and has called for love and amity among people.
Though Mishra, who was previously All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson, did not take Nitish’s name, he pointed out that he (Nitish) was earlier with the Grand Alliance. “He (Nitish) left us, we did not leave him. So he has to decide if he wants to come to the Congress. We are always ready to welcome secular-minded parties and Nitish had received mandate to rule Bihar in 2015 when he was with secular parties,” Mishra added.
However, the legislator also ruled out any move by the Congress to leave the RJD, which it considers is a time-tested and trusted ally.
Mishra also pointed that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is coming to Bihar again later this month and is expected to hold a camp in Nawada district, which saw social tension in March this year. “We demand that Bhagwat’s entry into Bihar be banned. Nitish should be vigilant about him, as there was tension in various districts after his (Bhagwat’s) previous visit to Bihar,” Mishra said.
Social tension had erupted in eight districts in March for which the Opposition had blamed Bhagwat’s 10-day stay in Muzaffarpur and Patna earlier this year.
Courtesy: The Telegraph
