Nitish Kumar's JD(U) To Launch 'Pol Khol' Campaign To 'Expose BJP's Hypocrisy' Over Caste Census

JD(U) alleged that the BJP "clandestinely" paved hurdles in the way of caste survey in Bihar by "getting petitions filed by its supporters".

JD(U) National President Lalan Singh with State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha during a press conference at the party office in Patna on Tuesday.

Source : PTI

The Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday announced a “pol khol” campaign against the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar asserting that the saffron party stood “exposed” on the issue of caste survey in the state. The announcement was made by party national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’ at a press conference in Patna and said the campaign, starting next month, will be in three phases, spread almost over the entire month, as per a PTI report. 

Singh alleged that the saffron party "clandestinely" paved hurdles in the way of caste survey in Bihar by "getting petitions filed by its supporters", only to be snubbed by the judiciary, the report stated. 

"From September 1 to 5, at all district headquarters in the state there will be processions carrying flames (mashaal julus) or a candle march. Similar demonstrations will be staged at all block headquarters from September 07 to 12,” he said at the press conference. 

"In the final phase, from September 15 to 22, party workers will put up black flags at their homes as a token of protest against the BJP's duplicity on caste survey", said the JD(U) president.” he added. 

Singh maintained that Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta did the bidding of the ruling BJP at the Centre when he sought time from the Supreme Court on Monday to file a reply to petitions challenging the caste survey.

"State governments have every right to conduct such a survey. This was made clear by the Supreme Court when it was hearing petitions challenging the Mandal Commission (in the 1990s)", Lalan said.

He asserted that the state governments have every right to conduct such surveys. “This was made clear by the Supreme Court when it was hearing petitions challenging the Mandal Commission (in the 1990s)," he said. 

"Unsurprisingly, the Patna High Court upheld the decision of our government to hold such a survey. The Supreme Court has already dismissed the flimsy plea that the exercise violated the people's right to privacy. Left with no other option, the BJP got the Solicitor General to jump into the matter", the former state minister alleged.