BJP Driving India Towards Authoritarianism, Says JDU As CM Nitish Aims For Party To Get National Status

Rajjiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan said: "Sampradayik unmaad (communal frenzy) was being yoked so that the people get distracted from their real problems for which the government of the day is responsible"

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janta Dal (United) on Saturday alleged that the BJP was driving the nation towards authoritarianism and whipping up communal passions just to divert the attention of the public from the real issues that the nation faces.

"The nation is being hurtled towards 'adhinayakvad' (authoritarianism). The government at the Centre has done nothing worthwhile in the eight and a half years it has been at the helm," JDU national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan said after the party's national council meeting, as quoted by news agency PTI.

Lalan who was given the top party post after Kumar's re-election said: "Sampradayik unmaad (communal frenzy) was being yoked so that the people get distracted from their real problems for which the government of the day is responsible."

After facing defeat at the hands of BJP in the recently held bypoll, journalists sought Nitish Kumar's response about his party's strategy post the defeat especially as he is expected to play a 'national role' in 2024.

"Whatever has to be said today will be said by Lalan. You will get to hear more tomorrow when we hold an open session of the national council," the Chief Minister said, as per PTI.

A party statement issued later informed that in the national council meeting, Kumar was digging his heels on the issue of prohibition which has come under attack after the bypoll debacle. He then urged other delegates of the party from other states to strive towards making JD(U) a "national party." In order for a party to be recognised as a 'national' party it needs to be present in more than two states. Nitish Kumar said, "We are already a recognised political group in two states other than Bihar".

When Lalan was questioned about whether JD(U) still believes that Nitish Kumar could pose a challenge to Narendra Modi, he snapped. He responded by saying that Nitish Kumar served as a 'model' of good governance (Kumar is also popularly known as the 'Sushasan Babu') and even the Narendra Modi-led government was adopting it. He said: "Our leader's model of governance is being emulated by the Centre though they may not acknowledge it for obvious reasons."

(With inputs from PTI)