The Congress on Monday said that most INDIA leaders felt relieved at Nitish Kumar’s exit, indicating that his unreliability and vulnerability had become a drag on the Opposition combine.
As Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra entered Bihar via Kishanganj in the morning, party communications chief Jairam Ramesh said: “Nitish Kumar’s exit will have no adverse impact on INDIA’s resolve to fight against Narendra Modi.”
He added: “In fact, most leaders are heaving a sigh of relief that this man is no more with us. They are happy. His conduct in some of the meetings was not encouraging.”
INDIA sources said many leaders had been suspicious of the Janata Dal United leader, realising that his primary concern was to grab the leadership of the Opposition alliance.
“He was desperate from the outset to grab the post of convener. But some in the alliance were not comfortable that a leader who had flourished in the BJP’s company for such a long time and had a track record of betrayal would become the face of the Opposition bloc,” an INDIA source said.
“They suggested (Congress president Mallikarjun) Kharge’s name as chairperson only to ensure that Nitish did not emerge as the face of the alliance.”
Kharge on Monday interpreted the somersault by Nitish in terms of what he described as the BJP’s tactics of intimidation.
“Yesterday, Nitish was taken away from us. The BJP is trying to frighten everybody by sending ED summons, threatening arrest,” he told a party workers’ convention in Bhubaneswar.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra', in Araria, Bihar, Monday, January 29. PTI picture
“Somebody is quitting the party, somebody is quitting the alliance. If everybody gets scared, what will happen to our democracy?”
Kharge added: “Democracy has to be saved. This (could be) India’s last election. If Modi wins in 2024, there will be full dictatorship. No more elections. As in Putin’s Russia, it will be ‘might is right’.
“We have suffered slavery under the British. Do we want to become slaves again? Don’t be afraid. They tried to terrorise Rahul Gandhi, but he is not scared. We have to put up a united fight and save democracy.”
Ramesh hinted at a coordinated move between Modi and Nitish to manage the headlines as the Nyay Yatra entered Bihar.
“This is the jugalbandi (duet) of the jagatguru of jhooth (world leader in lies) and expert in vishwasghat (betrayal). Modi asked the Palti Ustad (somersault expert) to do another somersault and he obeyed,” he said.
“Nobody will take Nitish seriously now. He is a political girgit (chameleon). Even the girgit will wonder how someone can change colours so many times.”
Ramesh wondered whether Nitish joining the NDA would have any impact on Modi’s attitude towards social justice.
“Modi did not make the 2011 caste census data public. The Nitish government did a caste (survey) and released the data. Will Nitish now tell Modi to do the same (countrywide)?” he said.
The issue of social justice has been dominating Bihar politics, and Rahul too stressed the question of “bhagidari” (equal participation) in his speech at Kishanganj.
“Without social and economic justice, this country cannot progress. Modi’s development paradigm is hollow. OBCs have the largest population, followed by Dalits, Adivasis and minorities. But there are only three OBC officers among the 90 bureaucrats running this country,” he said.
“The caste census is a revolutionary step. This is the first step towards equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities.”
He added: “Bihar has always taken the lead on the question of social justice. It is your responsibility to carry on this fight. This Yatra is about Nyay (justice). The poor don’t receive economic or social justice. Modi is working to transfer the nation’s wealth to two or three industrialists. The government is not concerned about the poor.”
