Patna: A day after LJP MP Chirag Paswan served an "ultimatum" on the BJP, asking it to bring in amendments to the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Bill in the current monsoon session of parliament by August 9, the JDU backed the stand.
"If the NDA does not get Dalit votes, think what its position will be," remarked JDU national spokesperson K.C. Tyagi. He even warned the BJP that not addressing Dalit concerns may result in losing of votes.
He supported the LJP's stand on launching a nationwide stir over dilution of the SC/ST atrocities Act.
Tyagi, however, said that they were not in favour of interfering with the judiciary. He was reacting to the demand for removing Justice A.K. Goel as the new NGT chairman.
But he did question the urgency of appointing Justice Goel just 48 hours after he retired from the apex court. Justice Goel headed the bench that delivered the judgment forbidding immediate arrest of persons charged under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
LJP sources indicate that though they were "serious" about the threat to carry out the agitation, the party will remain with the NDA. "Only an extreme case, like the BJP saying it will do nothing on the issue, can force the party out of the NDA", a senior leader of the party said, expressing hope that the Narendra Modi government would take some positive steps before the deadline.
LJP leaders say they were forced to take a hard stand because of the coming elections. "The party cannot remain immune to growing demands for restoration of the SC/ST Atrocities Act to its original form," the LJP leader said.
"Our basic support base consists of Paswans - a segment of Dalits who are 6 per cent of the votes in Bihar, enabling Ram Vilas Paswan to play kingmaker in Bihar politics. They are also hit by the dilution of the ACT".
The party has been on the edge ever since Nitish walked into the NDA. There is a perception that its seats would get sliced in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls under the new NDA set-up. In 2014, the LJP was given seven seat of which it won six. "Till now there have been no talks on Lok Sabha seats. But the party's stand has been " Saat hain to saath hain (If there are seven seats, we are with you)," remarked the LJP leader.
Chirag Paswan's ultimatum, however, appears to have created ripples in the BJP. "These regular threats and claims by allied party build up the perception that we are not united," said a senior BJP leader, recalling the RLSP chief's statement that Nitish should not be the chief ministerial face in the 2020 Assembly polls.
The RJD seems to be enjoying the discomfort in the NDA. "Chirag Paswan has served an ultimatum on Prime Minister Modi. Chirag's father Ram Vilas Paswan ji is known for being a 'political weather scientist'. The LJP knows what is going to happen in the Lok Sabha polls," taunted RJD MLA Bhai Birendra.
