New Delhi: Founder of Jan Suraaj Prashant Kishor appealed to the people of Bihar to refrain from backing political parties based on ‘jaat’ (caste) and ‘bhaat’ (free ration). He pointed out that this voting behaviour has caused the state to remain in backwardness. He said this during a rally in the Ramgarh assembly segment, where a by-poll is to be held next month.
Kishor, who is also a noted political strategist, flayed the treatment meted out to his home state by every government in Bihar and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Kishor added that Lalu Prasad and chief minister Nitish Kumar kept entire Bihar trapped in ‘jaat’ for 35 long years. For the past 10 years, Modi has been short-changing you in return for five kilograms of ‘bhaat’, he said. The Jan Suraaj founder then called on the people to stop voting for ‘jaat’ and ‘bhaat’ if they needed a better future for themselves and their children.
‘Unrestrained power of bureaucracy’
Kishor, whose party is emerging and seeking to establish itself in Ramgarh — a seat the RJD aims to retain and the BJP is attempting to reclaim — also asked the electorate not to back the saffron party. He pointed out that the BJP has indicated its intention to support Nitish Kumar for another term after next year’s assembly elections. Kishore alleged that Nitish Kumar has replaced the reign of criminals from the Lalu era with the unrestrained power of bureaucracy.
There has been unrest and discontent over the current land survey and residents are getting high electricity bills and facing unexpected disconnections since the mandatory smart pre-paid meters were introduced, Kishor lamented. He told the gathering that if they back the BJP, it will empower Nitish, and their troubles will continue.
Kishore’s Jan Suraaj is contesting all four assembly seats in Bihar where by-polls are scheduled for November 13. The Election Commission has allotted the poll symbol ‘school bag’ to all four candidates fielded by Jan Suraaj, a party statement said.
(with inputs from PTI)
