Bihar: Nitish Kumar Aide’s ‘Bhumihar’ Remark Unites BJP, Congress, RJD In Backlash As Row Erupts
Ashok Choudhary's comments have sparked widespread criticism from various political quarters.
Ashok Choudhary, a key aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has come under scrutiny following a recent remark about the Bhumihar caste. During a party event in Jehanabad district on Thursday, Choudhary's comments have sparked widespread criticism from various political quarters. A video clip of Choudhary's speech, which has since gone viral, captures him expressing frustration over the JD(U)'s loss in a Lok Sabha seat.
He is heard lamenting that the party's decision to field a candidate from an "extremely backward caste" led to a lack of support from the Bhumihars, news agency PTI reported. The remark was made in the context of former MP Chandeshwar Prasad Chandrawanshi's defeat to the RJD nominee by a margin exceeding one lakh votes.
बिहार के मंत्री अशोक चौधरी ने जगदीश शर्मा पर हमले के लिए भूमिहार शब्द का इस्तेमाल कर विवाद खड़ा कर दिया है । अब भूमिहार नेता खुलकर उनकी आलोचना कर रहे हैं।
— Ishu Samar (Bharatika Digital) (@IshuSamarLive) August 30, 2024
उन्होंने कहा, क्या नीतीश कुमार ने भूमिहारों के गांव में सड़क नहीं बनाई लेकिन जब अति पिछड़ा को टिकट मिलता है तो भूमिहार भाग pic.twitter.com/T1zKXIri2X
Bihar: BJP, Congress, RJD Condemn Nitish Kumar Aide's Remarks
The BJP, a longstanding ally of the Bhumihars, was quick to condemn Choudhary's comments. Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha responded, "Bhumihars are not just a caste. They represent a culture that is rooted to the ground. No well-wisher of society would make an adverse remark about the community."
Congress MLA Ajeet Sharma also criticised Choudhary's statement, stating, "Ashok Choudhary, who was a state president of our party till a few years ago, should be ashamed of making such a divisive statement. It is also a reflection on the culture of the JD(U), which is in power in Bihar and a partner in the ruling dispensation at the Centre."
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly and a prominent figure in the RJD, commented, "It is in the character of Nitish Kumar to take it out on those whom he perceives as not in support of the JD(U)." Yadav's remarks indirectly referenced a previous controversy involving MP Devesh Chandra Thakur, who had made derogatory comments about various communities.
"The character of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the JD(U) is one of spreading caste-based animosity. One of their MPs openly states that Kushwahas, Muslims, and Yadavs are not to be engaged with. One of their ministers says that the Bhumihars did not vote and made objectionable remarks about the community. In a democracy, if someone does not vote for you, should the JD(U) leaders and their chief, who have been in power for 19 years, disrespect those castes?" he stated
"Why are those in power not engaging in positive discussions about how many people from the Bhumihar caste are unemployed? What are the unemployment and literacy rates among Dalits, OBCs, SCs, minorities, and the general category? Why is there no discussion on how to achieve economic progress and upliftment for these groups from those who have been in the NDA government for 19 years?" Tejashwi added.
मुख्यमंत्री नीतीश कुमार और जदयू का चरित्र ही जातीय उन्माद फैलाने का हैं। उनके एक MP डंके की चोट पर कहते है कि कुशवाहा, मुसलमान और यादव का कोई काम नहीं करेंगे। इनके एक मंत्री कहते है कि भूमिहार ने वोट नहीं दिया और समाज को लेकर आपतिजनक बातें कही। लोकतंत्र में अगर कोई किसी को वोट… pic.twitter.com/6RU1OSKDqb
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) August 31, 2024
In response, MLC and JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar, himself a Bhumihar, criticised Choudhary, asserting that he had played "no role in building the JD(U)." Senior minister Shravan Kumar attempted to defuse the situation, stating that Choudhary's comments should be seen as representing his "personal capacity," and emphasised that "Nitish Kumar cares for all, without any discrimination on the basis of caste."
Choudhary, in defence of his comments, expressed, "How can I ever speak ill of the Bhumihars? My son-in-law is from that caste," referring to his daughter Shambhavi, the sitting MP from Samastipur, who is married to Sayan Kunal, the son of IPS officer-turned-religious leader Acharya Kishor Kunal.
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