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Janata Dal (United) has full faith in the Constitution of India and will operate on the ideology of socialism, secularism and integrity. The concept of law based on religion is against the principles of JD(U).
However, the JD(U)’s secularism has been brushed under the carpet owing to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The JD(U) is in complete agreement with the government over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The same Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which has room for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, but no room for the persecuted Muslims from China and Myanmar.
JD(U) Supports The Bill
JD(U) showed its support to the CAB in the Lok Sabha. Nitish Kumar’s party supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Party’s MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) said, “We support this Bill. This Bill should not be viewed on the basis os minority and majority.'
JD(U) supported the Bill even in the Rajya Sabha. However, ahead of the 2014 elections when this Bill was introduced in Parliament, this very party had opposed it.
Not just that, during JD(U)’s National Council meet, Nitish Kumar made a speech against the Bill. But for now, an evident U-turn has been made.
Whether it's opposing decisions related to Triple Talaq and Article 370 or staging a walkout from the Parliament during voting, JD(U) has come into the limelight for this even before. However, this time JD(U) in the Lok Sabha openly supported the Bill. What should one make of this?
A Return Gift To The BJP?
Did Nitish Kumar turn a blind eye and give a return gift to the BJP? Despite so many differences if Amit Shah has declared to contest under Nitish Kumar’s leadership in 2020, there must be something cooking.
Prashant Kishor, National Vice President, JD(U) raised questions on Nitish Kumar’s decision via two tweets in two days. But Nitish Kumar is just silent.
Member of National Executive NK Singh and Gulam Rasool Balyawi have expressed displeasure and requested Nitish Kumar to re-think his stand.
This is the same Nitish Kumar who in 2009 had stopped the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi from campaigning in Bihar, who, because of Narendra Modi, severed his ties with the BJP in June 2013, leaving a 17-year-old relationship behind. Whether it is need for power or survival, Nitish Kumar again found a ‘friend’ in the BJP.
It has broadly been decided that in order to return to power in Bihar in 2020 Nitish Kumar does not mind supporting the Hindutva narrative. Along with this, the party has stopped making its efforts to distinguish itself from the BJP.
There is an unspoken understanding among the party leaders that Nitish Kumar has abandoned the dream of becoming the secular face of the NDA.
The question that arises is, is Nitish Kumar aware of the fact that he’s losing touch with Bihar’s Muslims? Is this why he is willing to be a part of the race that leans towards the Hindus? According to the surveys post the Lok Sabha elections in the month of May, 6 percent Muslims voted for the JD(U). In the by-elections that took place in October, the number dropped even further. JD(U) won just one seat in the recent by-elections.
The rumour is that Bihar’s BJP leaders do not want Nitish to be the CM face in 2020.
Is Nitish trying to suppress this opposition? Owing to Nitish Kumar’s constant
U-turns, the people of Bihar would certainly ask JANAB, AISE KAISE?
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