JD-U won’t survive for long: BJP
Blaming the JD(U) for “betraying” the people of Bihar, who had given the mandate to the JD(U)-BJP alliance, the saffron party on Sunday warned its former ally that it would not “survive for long”. After the JD(U) formally ended its 17 years alliance with the BJP over Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s elevation in the saffron party, BJP chief Rajnath Singh virtually termed Mr Modi, often blamed for the 2002 post-Godhra riots, as secular. The BJP, which had been preparing itself for the inevitable split ever since the JD(U)’s national conclave in April this year, also said that it was “saddened” by the decision taken by its former ally. The BJP also released a 2003 statement of Nitish Kumar, who was the then railway minister, when he had predicted that Mr Modi would not be “confined” to Gujarat but will play a national role.
“We always treated JD(U) as a younger brother and our relationship of 17 years was not a political but an emotional one. It was never made under pressure... When a coalition is formed, it is based on trust and mutual understanding. When that goes, it is really sad. We can be betrayed but we will never betray,” said BJP chief Rajnath Singh.
The BJP had categorically told the JD(U) that it would not reconsider its decision on elevating Mr Modi as head of the general poll’s campaign committee. The saffron party had also refused to give the JD(U) an assurance that the Gujarat chief minister will not be its prime ministerial candidate.
The BJP’s Bihar unit had been prodding the central leadership since long to go alone in the state as it felt it was not been given due respect by the JD(U) whose leader and chief minister Nitish Kumar was averse to Mr Modi’s growing graph. But the BJP’s central leadership was waiting for the JD(U) to blink first and snap ties.
Blaming the JD(U) for “weakening” the fight against the Congress, Mr Singh said, “By withdrawing from the alliance JD(U) has weakened our fight against Congress. By breaking this relationship how do they think that the country can be freed of the Congress rule.”
Mr Singh, who had elevated Mr Modi by first bringing him in the BJP’s parliamentary board and then as the campaign committee chief despite objection from a section within the party, said if the Gujarat chief minister was being considered communal because of the 2002 post-Godhra riots, there have been thousands of riots in 24 years of Congress rule since Independence.
He also reminded the JD(U) that in 2000, BJP was a bigger party than it in Bihar when it had 60 seats while JD(U) won only “36/37 seats”. “But still, BJP chose a JD(U) leader to become chief minister,” said Mr Singh.
Post new comment