Chirag Paswan regrets supporting Bihar government in view of deteriorating law and order in the State
'I feel sorry to be supporting the government in Bihar, which is failing on the law and order front like this,' Mr. Paswan told media persons in Patna before leaving for Gayaji (formerly Gaya), where his party is organising a 'Nav Sankalp (new resolve) Mahasabha (large gathering)'. Mr. Paswan has earlier addressed similar public meetings by his party at Ara (Bhojpur), Siwan, and Munger.
The LJP-RV chief has announced that he will contest the Assembly election from a general, and not reserved seat, and that he would nominate candidates from his party for all 243 Assembly seats in Bihar. Mr. Paswan is an alliance partner of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State.
'The way crime is happening in Bihar, the administration has totally bowed down before criminals. This incident (the gang-rape in Bodh Gaya) deserve condemnation, but why are such incidents happening? There is a series of crimes, and if it continues like this, the situation will become frightening or is already so,' Mr. Paswan said, adding ''crime has become uncontrolled' in Bihar.
The MP from Hajipur, and Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, also accused the State government of 'either trying to hush up the situation or being unable to handle it any more'.
'If it's said that this is happening because of election, I can say it might possibly be so, and it might be a conspiracy to defame the government, but even then, it's the responsibility of the administration to control it. How are criminals getting away with crimes under your administration? The administration is trying to cover up the situation or is completely incompetent in handling the [law and order] situation. The situation in the State has become scary,' Mr. Paswan said, in response to questions from media persons, linking law and order in particular to the gang-rape of July 24 in Bodh Gaya.
Assembly election is due in Bihar in October-November.
Meanwhile, Mr. Paswan's declaration over a month ago that he would contest the forthcoming Assembly election from a general seat in the Shahabad area, home to about 22 Assembly constituencies, has stirred alarm in Bihar's political landscape. He is yet to name the constituency from which he will contest.
Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mrityunjay Tiwari, in a response to Mr. Paswan's remarks on the Nitish Kumar-led government's inability to manage law and order, said his party had been drawing attention to the issue for months. 'What Mr. Paswan is saying today, we have been crying for months — that the law and order situation in the State has collapsed completely. Our party leader, Tejashwi Yadav, has been flagging the ever-spiralling criminal incidents in the State daily. Mr. Paswan has called a spade a spade,' the RJD leader said.
The Congress party shared the video of Mr. Paswan remarks in an attempt to highlight apparent cracks in the ruling NDA. 'We agree with what Chirag Paswan has said over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar. Every citizen in the State is feeling the same and that's why we have shared Mr. Paswan's video on social media,' the party's Bihar in-charge, and spokesperson, Rajesh Rathore told The Hindu over phone. 'How long with the people of Bihar keep suffering?' Mr. Rathore said.
Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) chief and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, also an NDA partner in Bihar, disagreed that Mr. Paswan's remarks suggested a rift between the allies. 'We are in the NDA and we have to help the NDA. We wish him (Chirag Paswan) all the best. He should strengthen the NDA as NDA today has become necessary for society and the country. If someone opposes the NDA, then I think they don't have have good feelings towards the people of the State and the country. If work is being done to strengthen the country, then we should all appreciate it,' Mr. Manjhi said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha member Bhim Singh expressed surprise at Mr. Paswan's remarks. 'It's surprising that Chirag Paswan is making such remarks on the law and order situation in the State. Tackling and maintaining law and order has been the main focus of Nitish Kumar government. Everybody knows this fact in Bihar and beyond,' Mr. Singh told The Hindu.
State Congress president Rajesh Kumar disagreed with the BJP leader. 'It's known to everyone that law and order in Bihar has collapsed. Chirag Paswan ko aaj hosh aa raha hai us par comment karne ke liye? (Chirag Paswan realises this fact today?). In fact, he is misleading the people of Bihar. Several murders and incidents of rape have taken place in the State recently,' the Congress leader said.
Ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and party spokesperson Neeraj Kumar took a jibe at Mr. Paswan. 'If Chirag Paswan's health does not permit him to move around, he should take rest. By commenting on the law and order situation in the State, he (Chirag Paswan) is also challenging the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figure, which says crime in Bihar has dipped. In this way, Mr. Paswan is also throwing a challenge to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Central government, and not the State government, releases the NCRB report,' Mr. Neeraj Kumar said.
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