My Opinion

The outcome of the Bihar Polls is anybody’s guess. It has left everybody baffled. Political pundits are speculating and there is no parity amongst the various Opinion Poll surveys. However if one were to go purely by the mammoth crowd presence at Prime Minister Modi’s rallies, it has definitely given the BJP alliance an edge over the Nitish-Lalu alliance.

Nothing is more shameful than what happened at the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly today when Independent MLA Engineer Rashid was thrashed by the BJP MLAs because he had hosted a beef party in an act of defiance. While there is no justification in what the BJP MLAs did, Engineer Rashid was no less. Instead of trying to maintain peace, he was bent upon provoking the BJP by continuously threatening them with shoes and dire consequences.

It is noteworthy how Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a reference to the Dadri incident came down heavily on all communal forces. It came as a fitting reply to questions being repeatedly raised by leaders like Lalu, Nitish, Rahul and Owaisi on the PM’s silence over the issue. The PM’s frontal attack came at a time when his cabinet minister Nitin Gadkari lashed out at the opposition earlier during the day saying that they would always raise a stink irrespective of whether Modi spoke or chose to keep mum. And today there was no stopping the Prime Minister as he finally broke his silence.

As Bihar goes to the polls on Monday, NDA seems to be on a stronger wicket than the RJD alliance according to the latest India TV-C Voter Opinion Poll survey. However the picture could change drastically as polling in Bihar is scheduled to take place in four more phases spread out over a period of one month. If Caste is the basis upon which the electorate votes, then the RJD alliance could surge ahead but if development is the key factor, then it would be a huge win for Narendra Modi and his party.

That Rahul Gandhi would hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rallies in Bihar is nothing new. He even praised Nitish Kumar but what stood out in both his rallies was his silence on the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Who can forget what forced the two to fall apart. In fact two years ago it was Rahul Gandhi who had dramatically objected to the ordinance that the then Congress government sought to issue – an ordinance that was primarily meant to save Lalu from being disqualified upon his conviction in the fodder case. Not only did Lalu go to jail, the controversial ordinance was also withdrawn forcing Lalu to lick his wounds.

The Supreme Court had to finally step in to quell the confusion arising out of two contradictory division bench judgements over the beef ban in Jammu & Kashmir. But despite the Supreme Court’s intervention at the behest of the Mufti government, every party in Kashmir is bent upon playing beef politics. Adopting a defiant stand, MLA Engineer Rashid even hosted a beef party saying that no court or legislature could stop people from eating what they wanted.

Before the elections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had promised that his government would work for the masses and would be one of them. He had said that his MLAs would lead lives of the ordinary and would not waste money unnecessarily. However much seems to have changed since then. From a ‘no security’, ‘no beacon’, ‘no bungalows’ promise, a committee constituted by the Delhi government has now proposed a whopping four-fold increase in MLA salaries. It is anything but ‘aam admi’!

The arrest of these fishermen by Pakistan, is a sad testament of how they are repeatedly at the receiving end while trying to eke out a subsistence. And there is no proper demarcation of the border in the oceans which makes it even more difficult. Instead of arresting them blindly and throwing them into prison, a proper solution would have to be found so that the fishermen are well aware of the limits in the territorial waters and do not cross over unknowingly. And even if they do, one would have to be magnanimous enough to forgive them.

The violence in Varanasi over the issue of idol immersion has turned ugly. The violent clash between the police and the seers has left many injured. While the police cite the Allahabad HC order banning immersion, the sadhus say it is their customary right. Traditionally in Varanasi, the city intellectuals have always played an important role and this time too had they come forward, the situation could have been brought under control and settled amicably.

Azam Khan is well aware that every action begets a reaction. He will keep making such inflammatory statements which in turn will trigger off vitriolic reactions from leaders like Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj. Instead of indulging in hate politics and further polarising people, he could do well to take lessons from someone much younger – the UP Chief Minister, on what to say and how to react in such situations!

Lalu’s statement that even Hindus have beef has created a political storm. It has given the BJP a much needed ammunition to hit out against him. Such controversial statements could cost Lalu the crucial Yadav vote. Nitish Kumar has chosen to maintain a silence over this issue while Congress is trying to distance itself. It has even forced Lalu to clarify himself. No one seems to care about the humble cow in the midst of such political power play!

UP Minister Azam Khan should refrain from raising the Dadri issue at the United Nations. He should realise that the conditions of Muslims here are far better as compared to other countries. It is these inflammatory statements made by such leaders which are proving to be a real threat to the country. Instead of instigating the masses, leaders like Azam Khan, Sadhvi Prachi or Sangeet Som could do well by lying low for a while.