Patna, Oct 16 Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s recent remark about Ayodhya’s Ram temple smacked of BJP’s “arrogance” and “attempt to deify” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Bankipur MLA also defended the recent march to the Supreme Court by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other political leaders, claiming people had “lost faith in the Election Commission” and earlier interventions by the judiciary did not address the concerns.
“Recently, Samrat Choudhary said Lord Ram lived in a tent for 400 years, and it was Modi, who was providing the country’s poor with homes, also gave the deity a place to reside. What is this if not arrogance”, asked Kishor, while interacting with journalists at Bihta near here late Thursday night.
Choudhary had made the remark earlier this week here at a function, organised to celebrate 25 years of Modi in seats of power, starting from 2001 when he was made Gujarat Chief Minister.
Kishor alleged that “the government has failed to fulfil the people’s basic needs like jobs and education. Yet, the BJP has the temerity to deify Modi by claiming that even Lord Ram was granted a home by him. The party had earlier made a person disguised as Lord Hanuman dance at one of its rallies”.
He added that “the BJP’s arrogance was on display even during the Bankipur by-election when it had boasted that even a dog or a cat could win the seat on its ticket. Of course, after losing the seat, they denied having ever made such a statement”.
“But, there is a need to put a check on this arrogance of the BJP. The polls to eight legislative council seats in Bihar, scheduled next week, are a very good opportunity. If the people vote for our candidates, we will be in a better position to fulfil our promises”, said the Jan Suraaj Party founder.
He added, “Defeat of NDA candidates will serve as a chastisement for the ruling coalition, which will be forced to pull up its socks before the Lok Sabha elections”.
Notably, the Jan Suraaj Party is contesting all the eight constituencies going to polls on October 23, while the BJP and its ally the JD(U) are fighting four each.
Kishor was also asked about the Supreme Court voicing displeasure over Gandhi having led a march to its premises earlier this week, after which a petition was filed against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The Jan Suraaj Party founder replied, “People are bound to hit the streets since they have lost trust in the Election Commission and earlier interventions by the Supreme Court have failed to inspire confidence”.
He recalled that “the apex court had refused to hear our petition when we drew its attention to voters being bribed in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls. Incidentally, the bench was headed by the Chief Justice of India whose infamous cockroach remark has birthed the youth uprising”.
The allusion was to Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana launched days before Bihar assembly poll schedule in 2025, under which Rs 10,000 each was given to over one crore women.
(PTI News)
