Two days after political divorce, BJP-JD(U) workers come to blows

Barely two day after JD-U pulled out of NDA, workers of both parties exchanged blows and abuses and swinged lathis at each other

The political tensions between former alliance partners, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U), on Tuesday turned into an ugly street fight, with workers of both parties exchanging abuses and hitting each other with lathis here.

The BJP had called for a statewide shutdown on Tuesday to observe Vishwasghat Diwas (Betrayal Day) after the JD(U) ended its 17-year association with the saffron party and sacked BJP ministers from the Cabinet on Sunday. BJP workers took to the streets to enforce the shutdown. Major business centres across the state remained shut and attendance in government offices was thin. Several trains were forcefully halted and major national highways blocked. Later, many party workers and leaders courted arrest.

As they went from place to place, enforcing the shutdown, BJP workers clashed with their JD(U) counterparts, who were taking out counter rallies to oppose the bandh.

The fistfight began at 10 am on Birchand Patel Marg, when JD(U) spokesman Rajeev Ranjan, along with his supporters took out a march against the shutdown. As soon as the JD(U) march neared the state BJP office, a major clash broke out. Workers of both parties began raining blows and swinging lathis on each other. Several persons, including Ranjan, were reportedly injured in this incident.

Both parties accused each other of initiating the violence. State BJP President Mangal Pandey said, “This was done on the direct orders of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. JD(U) workers attacked BJP women protesters and tried to molest them. They (women protestors) have identified attackers, but the police have not taken any steps yet. JD(U) is trying to take Bihar back to the days of the Rashtriya Janata Dal regime.”

Nitish Kumar's former deputy and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi ranted against the state government. He said, “The chief minister himself had directed JD(U) workers to make our shutdown unsuccessful. They (JD(U) workers) attacked us with sticks and blows. It shows the frustration of JD(U) leaders. They must understand the writing on the wall.”

The JD(U) blamed the BJP for the fracas, stating its workers were venting their frustration by organising a shutdown. “They will be frustrated for a few days, but later get used to this,” said Nitish Kumar.

“Every party has a right to call a bandh, but attacking JD(U) workers was unjustified. If the BJP can take out a march, so can we. They have showed their true colours,” said JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar.