Jailed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday fired a fresh salvo at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying “the CM is now finished”.
As per media reports, talking to the media outside AIIMS (Delhi), Yadav said “Nitish Kumar is now finished as the BJP has set the whole state ablaze”.
Former Bihar CM was commenting on recent incidents of communal violence in the state. Communal clashes have erupted in several districts in the state since Ram Navami last Sunday.
On 28 March, in Nalanda district two communities clashed over taking out a religious procession. 20 people and four security personnel were injured in the clashes.
Two BJP leaders were arrested on Thursday in Samastipur district on the charge of disturbing communal harmony that resulted in clashes during the Ram Navami procession, police said.
Dinesh Jha and Mohan Patwa were arrested on the basis of a video footage of the incident in Rosera town of Samastipur.
Communal tension again gripped Rosera town in Samastipur three days after communal clashes on 26 March. More than 60 persons, including policemen, were injured and dozens of shops and vehicles were torched in Rosera during the clashes.
Hundreds of additional securitymen, including two battalions of the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed in sensitive areas in Rosera, with senior police officials keeping an eye on the situation.
Police is patrolling the town and Internet services have been suspended to check the spread of rumours.
Reports of communal tension in districts like Bhagalpur, Aurangabad, Munger, Nalanda, Sheikhpura and Jaamui were also received.
The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for allegedly failing to prevent communal disharmony.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has demanded the arrest of Union Minister Ashwani Choubey’s son Arijit Shashwat for allegedly inciting communal passions in Bhagalpur.
Last week, a case was lodged against BJP leader Shashwat for taking out a procession without permission, inciting communal sentiments and roaming on the streets with weapons.
(With agency inputs)