Patna, Feb. 5: The JDU has refused to be on the same page as alliance partner RJD on the issue of drawing an analogy between "negligence" to Bihar in the Union budget and India's relations with Pakistan.
"We don't need to agree with whatever is said by our alliance partners on different issues," senior JDU leader and party general secretary K.C. Tyagi told The Telegraph on Sunday. "The JDU's stand on the Union budget has already been explained by our party president, Nitish Kumar."
He was reacting to deputy chief minister Tejashwi's reaction to the Union budget, where he said: "It seems the Centre is treating Bihar like Pakistan."
Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who also happens to be JDU national president, was more measured while expressing his disappointment with the Union budget. He had confined his attack to points concerning Bihar's financial expectations. "There was neither anything for the country nor anything that could strengthen the economy. Bihar was not given a special status or an economic package or the remaining amount of Backward Regions Grant Fund," Nitish had said.
If the JDU refused to toe the RJD line, the Congress chose to be diplomatic.
Sought a reaction on Tejashwi's choice of words, Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Harkhu Jha said: "I will not comment."
Party's senior leader Sadanand Singh tried to defend Tejashwi, claiming that his intention was to highlight the step-motherly treatment the Centre meted out to Bihar in this budget. He, however, refused comment when asked if it was okay to draw an analogy between Bihar and Pakistan. "I will not say anything more on this issue."
Despite the strong reaction from the BJP's Nawada MP and junior Union minister Giriraj Singh on Tejashwi's reaction, senior BJP leader from Bihar, Nand Kishore Yadav, was more sombre. "Tejashwi's statement is childish. It shows his immaturity," Nand Kishore said.
Some senior JDU and Congress leaders, who spoke under cover of anonymity, echoed Nand Kishore.
"Tejashwi is holding an important position in Bihar and he should be more careful in his choice of words when reacting to important issues," said a JDU functionary.
A senior Congress leader called the deputy chief minister "immature" and expressed hope that he would avoid using such words in future.
This is not the first time Pakistan's name has created ripples in Bihar politics.
In the heat of electioneering ahead of Bihar Assembly elections in 2015, BJP national president Amit Shah had at a political rally in Raxaul, East Champaran, said that "crackers would be burst" in the neighbouring country if for any reason his party loses the polls. " Agar galti se bhi BJP ye chunav har gayi, galti se bhi, jay parajay toh isi dharti pe hogi, lekin patake chalenge Pakistan mein (If for some reason the BJP loses the elections, victory or defeat will happen here, but crackers would be burst in Pakistan)," Shah had said.
His assertion had drawn a sharp attack from the JDU, with its general secretary K.C. Tyagi having then stated: "What Amit Shah said in Raxaul was an insult to Biharis. He termed them pro-Pakistan, which is a violation of the model code of conduct."
