Former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi objected to the blanket ban on display of toons at Durga Puja pandals, asserting that cartoons hurting the feeling of certain communities should have only been prohibited.he ban on the display of toons was enforced for the first time in 1998 because several pandals in the previous year displayed toons depicting the fodder scam, in which RJD chief Lalu Prasad figured prominently. The RJD chief had alleged that the BJP was behind the cartoons on display at more than a dozen pandals. The BJP workers said they would have loved to display toons this year also highlighting the failures of chief minister Nitish Kumar, which allegedly triggered Chhapra midday meal tragedy, the police firing on tribals at Bagaha and the serial blasts at Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya. “Of course, the Patna district administration may be justified because these toons would have hurt the feelings of Nitish and other JD(U) leaders,” a BJP worker said. Former MLA Sarayu Roy's letter to Sushil Kumar Modi appears to have created more ripples in the JD(U) than the BJP. An alarmed JD(U) leader pointed out that Roy in his letter had not ruled out joining the JD(U) and claimed that chief minister Nitish Kumar had offered him the post of his choice, “If Sarayu Roy enters the party, we shall have another leader flaunting his proximity to the chief minister,” said a JD(U) leader, expressing doubt over Roy’s induction in the ministry because it could fan resentment among the aspiring ministers in the party. Reports of politicians demanding extortion money have become common again. The JD(U) legislator, Anant Singh, has been accused of demanding extortion money from a Patna-based businessman. Sheohar BJP MP Rama Devi has been allegedly extorting people citing Hunkar Rally. Both the legislators’ parties - the JD(U) and the BJP - have preferred to remain silent on the issue so far. “Had it been our regime, the two parties would have made noises every day on the ‘deteriorating law and order situation’ in the state. But I suppose extortion is okay with the BJP and the JD(U) as long as their men are involved,” said a senior RJD leader. Countering the JD(U) allegation, the BJP leaders claimed that they observed the birth anniversary of Kailashpati Mishra - arguably the biggest leader of the party in the state - on October 5 after a news conference of Sushil Kumar Modi. The JD(U) leaders had teased the BJP leaders, claiming that the latter had forgotten to observe the birth anniversary of late Kailashpati Mishra on October 5. Mishra was instrumental in building the party in the state from a scratch. Modi conducted a press meet on October 5, after which the BJP leaders claimed to have paid floral tributes to Mishra. “There were several news meets that day. Most of the lensmen rushed to another news meet soon after the Modi’s event was over. The photo of the function was with only two photographers. Besides, who are the JD(U) leaders to talk about paying respect to Mishra. How many of them remember George Fernandes, who formed the Samata Party?” asked a BJP leader.
Tuesday, 10 February 2026
