|
Patna, Oct. 6: Black is banned, or is it?
An order purportedly issued by Jamui superintendent of police Upendra Prasad Sinha to ban people from wearing black clothes at Nitish Kumar’s Adhikar Yatra rally in the district on October 8 has sparked off a controversy, throwing the administration into a tizzy.
Sinha, in his order, said: “People wearing black spectacles, black clothes and black shawls or holding black handkerchiefs are not permitted to attend chief minister Nitish Kumar’s meeting on October 8. Those found guilty of violating the order would be booked under Section 107 of CrPC”.
Section 107 is invoked to prevent unlawful assemblage and ensure peace and security.
District magistrate Mayank Barbarey denied that any such order has been issued. “There is no ban on black clothes or anything at the chief minister’s rally,” Barbarey told The Telegraph.
Nitish is scheduled to address another rally in Nawada the same day.
Nitish’s arch rival and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who is on the Parivartan Yatra in the state’s hinterland— was quick to react to the purported order. He said it was an “infringement” on the fundamental rights of people to wear clothes of their choice.
In his inimitable style, Lalu said: “Nitish has turned arrogant and is ignoring the basic things a leader should adhere to in democracy. Now, the ones who have black hair should call the barbers and get their heads tonsured.”
He described the order as a “Tughlaqui farman (medieval period king Muhammad bin Tughlaq had issued some bizarre orders that are described as Tughlaqui farman in popular parlance)”. Though Nitish has not reacted, the administration is believed to have taken the measure to avoid any unsavoury scene at his meetings.
Nitish’s cavalcade was greeted with black flags at Khagaria and other places last week with contract teachers going violent to press for their demands. His security was breached at many places with people waving black flags and throwing stones at his cavalcade.
| 
