New Delhi/Patna, May 4: Sharad Yadav’s defence of railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today has been a surprise to the Congress but turned out to be a blow to the BJP.
“If any relative of a political leader is involved in corruption then what is the fault of that leader? As a parliamentarian, I have known Bansal for a long time. What has he to do with his nephew taking bribe?” Yadav, who also happens to be the NDA convener, said while asked about his reaction on the railway minister’s nephew being arrested by the CBI on charges of accepting bribe on behalf of an officer.
Yadav, the MP from Madhepura, did not demand Bansal’s resignation but said: “It was up to him.”
“How do you plan to run this country when politicians start resigning for the deeds of their relatives?” he asked and added: “Those involved have been arrested and an investigation is going on. Now it is up to the minister to take a call whether he should resign or not.”
The statement, virtually in defence of Bansal, coming from the leader of a key NDA constituent, went to dampen the BJP’s aggressive demand for dismissal of the minister. The BJP leaders, however, sought to downplay the remark pointing out that Yadav was a “maverick”.
In the JD(U) circles, too, Yadav’s statement came as a big surprise though party leaders refrained from commenting over the issue pointing out that they cannot speak contrary to the party president. Shabir Ali, the JD(U) MP in the Rajya Sabha, said Bansal should own moral responsibility and quit. “The minister should take moral responsibility and resign,” Ali said during a debate on ABP News.
Party insiders said Yadav has been known for championing the cause of the political class and felt much significance should not be attached to his remarks.
“In this season of series of scams, it is impossible to defend the Congress. Sharadji is known for aggressively defending the political class when Anna Hazare when he targeted politicians. His remarks should be seen from that point of view,” said a JD(U) MP.
Yadav’s remark was also seen as an effort by the JD(U) to project itself independent of senior partner BJP in the backdrop of its differences over Narendra Modi. “Is it necessary to endorse what the BJP says? JD(U) is an independent party and has its own views on different issues,” said another JD(U) MP.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar made it abundantly clear at the JD(U)’s national executive meeting in New Delhi last month that his party would not accept anyone bereft of secular credential, idea of inclusive growth and disrespectful to India’s plurality and multiplicity as the prime ministerial candidate. Nitish’s tough talks had virtually begun the countdown of the 17-year-old BJP-JD(U) tie-up in Bihar.
On the other hand, the BJP cadres defying Nitish’s “dislike” for Modi put up a banner announcing the Gujarat chief minister as their prime ministerial candidate at Belsand in Sitamarhi district where Nitish was on Seva Yatra today. The saffron cadres had also put a banner announcing the same during Nitish’s rally in Gopalganj a couple of days ago.
Now, Sharad openly backing Bansal, whose resignation is being demanded by the BJP, has, apparently, stepped up the process of split between the two allies.
Ever since strains erupted in the JD(U)-BJP tie-up on the issue of Modi, the Bihar party has been occasionally giving friendly gestures towards the Congress.
Nitish, during his two recent visits in New Delhi — one on the occasion of his party’s Adhikar Rally and the other at its national body meeting — had not spoken a word about the UPA’s corruption.
Some party leaders said Yadav’s reaction could be part of their strategy to make the BJP nervous about the JD(U)’s future plans.
