Updated September 24th, 2019 at 21:03 IST
JD(U) and Congress target Giriraj Singh for 'crocodile tears'
Union Minister Giriraj Singh had made striking allegations against the Nitish Kumar led government in Bihar which led to the JD(U) and Congress targeting him
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Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh had made striking allegations against the Nitish Kumar led government in Bihar. The Union Minister's claim of discrimination against his constituency brought upon a shower of angry responses from the JD(U) and Congress on Tuesday, September 24.
READ | Giriraj Singh slams CM Nitish, urges for flood relief in Begusarai
Stop shedding 'crocodile tears'
The remarks made by Singh led to a verbal altercation with a Bihar Minister, who asked that Giriraj Singh stop shedding “crocodile tears”. Singh, whose party is a constituent of the state's ruling coalition, had recently accused the government of meting out 'sautela vyavahaar' (step-motherly treatment) to his Begusarai seat, hit by floods, while Nalanda, Kumar's home district, was declared drought-hit "despite adequate rainfall".
"It is a stated policy of Nitish Kumar that those affected by calamities like flood and drought have the first claim to the states exchequer. His government does not discriminate against any region," State minister Shravan Kumar, considered close to the Chief Minister, told reporters in Nawada. "He (Giriraj Singh) should stop shedding crocodile tears for Begusarai. As an MP and a member of the Union cabinet, he has some accountability of his own towards Begusarai. He should take some initiative instead of training guns on others," he said.
READ | Bihar floods: As death toll increases, CM Nitish Kumar says will seek help from Centre
'Should I commit suicide?'
Another JD(U) leader criticised the BJP leader for his "should I commit suicide" comment. The comment was made in the context of his claim of alleged bias of the state authorities towards the Chief Minister's home district. "Giriraj Singh often speaks a language that seeks to give the impression that he is bold and courageous. But his rhetoric, as in his talk of suicide, gives the impression that he is a coward," JD(U) spokesman Nikhil Mandal said.
On a tour of his constituency over the weekend, Singh, when asked to comment on some JD(U) leaders taking exception to his allegation of preferential treatment to Nalanda, had snapped, asking "should I commit suicide then? What am I expected to do if not raise the issues of my constituency as an elected representative".
READ | BJP's Giriraj Singh announces Centre's 'Cow production factory' plans
Giriraj Singh potential CM candidate
According to RLSP national general secretary Madhaw Anand, “Nitish Kumar saw Kushwaha as a potential challenger to him from among the OBCs. So he tried his best to throw a spanner whenever our party president proposed to do something for his constituency.”
Anand has said now that Singh was being seen as a potential Chief Ministerial candidate of the BJP, similar tactics could be adopted against him. A section of BJP leaders and supporters, particularly those from the Union Minister's Bhumihar community, has been favouring him as the state's next chief minister. Singh, however, virtually ruled himself out of contention at a press conference in Muzaffarpur earlier in the day, when he also hinted that he may hang up his boots at the end of Prime Minister Narendra Modis current tenure.
Giriraj Singh expressed his distress
Just a few days ago, Giriraj Singh had lashed out at CM Nitish Kumar. He expressed his distress on the step treatment towards the people of his constituency Begusarai who are affected by floods. Giriraj Singh, while visiting the flood-affected riverine areas of the Gangetic belt of Bachhwara and Chamtha, spoke to the DM and urged them for a flood relief. "I will not tolerate any step treatment towards Begusarai, as the Government in power has to look after everyone," Singh said.
READ | Giriraj Singh on Rahul Gandhi's statement: 'Band-aid on gunshot wound'
(With inputs from PTI)
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Published September 24th, 2019 at 18:57 IST
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