In a recent turn of events, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s criticism of the Bihar government’s “appeasement politics” has sparked a nationwide debate. The controversy centers around the state’s caste survey, where allegations of exaggerating the population of Yadavs and Muslims have raised eyebrows. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, in a bold move, challenged Amit Shah to conduct a caste census across the country and in all BJP-ruled states.
The debate began when Amit Shah claimed that the Bihar government, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, deliberately inflated the numbers of Yadavs and Muslims in the state’s caste census. He alleged that this was done as a part of the state’s “appeasement politics.” Shah’s accusations did not go unchallenged. Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, speaking with the media, responded by urging the Union Home Minister to conduct a nationwide caste census if he believed the current survey was flawed.
JD(U) chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh added fuel to the fire by pointing out the complex history of the caste census decision. He mentioned that while the BJP was a part of the government that initially approved the caste census, it was Amit Shah’s government at the Centre that later rejected the proposal for a countrywide caste census. This rejection led to the filing of petitions in the Patna High Court and the Supreme Court, effectively hindering the caste survey in Bihar.
Amit Shah’s criticism is not only aimed at the Bihar government but also at the JD(U) for its alliance with the BJP. JD(U) had broken ties with the BJP the previous year to join the Mahagathbandhan coalition, which includes the Left, RJD, and Congress. The Union Home Minister accused this alliance, often referred to as I.N.D.I.A, of having a sole objective: undermining Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both JD(U) and RJD play significant roles in this political coalition.
Shah’s bold statements extended to Nitish Kumar’s political ambitions. He stated, “Nitish Kumar should stop dreaming about becoming the next PM. The INDIA alliance did not even make him its convener.” These words reflect the intense political rivalry in Bihar’s landscape.
In the upcoming elections, Amit Shah seemed confident about the BJP’s performance, even claiming that the party would secure all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. He did not hold back in criticizing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, attributing the state’s issues to what he termed “Gundaraaj.”
The controversy surrounding Amit Shah’s ‘appeasement politics’ jibe at the Bihar government has ignited political tensions in the state. The caste survey, allegations of population inflation, and the political alliances are all topics of concern. The situation remains fluid, and as the political landscape evolves, we will continue to monitor and report on the developments.
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