Bihar: Police Order Seeks Details of RSS Leaders, Brings BJP-JD(U) Divide to Fore

Differences between Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surfaced again on Wednesday, as the BJP leaders including MLAs opposed the state government order to gather detailed information on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders and its subsidiary outfits.

It was reported earlier that special branch of Bihar police was directed to gather detailed information about the state functionaries of the RSS and its 18 subsidiary outfits including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. This letter was issued by the special branch on May 28, two days before the swearing in of the Narendra Modi Cabinet. BJP leaders have expressed surprise over the order and have opposed this action.

On the other hand, JD(U) leaders are maintaining that they have no information about any such letter issued by the state police.

This is not the first time that the differences between JD(U) and BJP have come to the fore. In May, JD(U) had refused to join the Union Cabinet for being offered just a symbolic representation. It was reportedly CM Nitish Kumar who had taken this decision, and it was followed by another development that exposed the widening rift between the two.

After being left high and dry by the top BJP leadership, Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet by inducting eight ministers from his party – not including any BJP leader. However, he later claimed that the BJP was offered a few positions on which, the party was expected to take a decision later.

Last month, a few senior BJP leaders had questioned Nitish Kumar over deteriorating law and order in the state and had embarrassed him by pointing to the failure of the government in connection with the death of over 150 children from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur.

On the other hand, Nitish Kumar has made it clear time and again that his party will not support BJP on issues like Triple Talaq Bill or Article 370.

Against this backdrop, the latest order regarding RSS leaders has added only fuel to the fire. BJP MLA Sanjay Saravgi said, “Why is the government seeking information about RSS leaders? This is objectionable.”

He added that there should be an investigation into why such order has been passed.

Another BJP MLA, Nitin Navin, said that it was wrong the way police wanted to gather such information. “We will take this issue up with the top leaders of the BJP soon.”

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Sanjay Paswan told NewsClick that this is a serious issue. “We and the RSS are taking this issue seriously and will take it up with the government,” he said.

Both Saravgi and Paswan are considered to be close to the RSS in the state.

Interestingly, none of the BJP ministers in the state have made any comment on this issue in the public, nor has any other senior BJP leader.

“RSS is a nationalist organisation. There is no doubt about it. RSS functionaries, from top to bottom, have been working for the nation. We will put pressure on the state government to retrieve such an order,” said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and the Left have said that the Nitish Kumar government has rightly passed such an order. “If Bihar government is trying to gather information on RSS leaders to tighten the noose and keep watch on their activities, why are the BJP leaders opposing it?” said a Congress leader.

Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra has welcomed the state police order and said that the state government has a right to gather this information.

According to officials at police headquarters here, Special Branch, the intelligence wing of the state police, receives briefing directly from the chief minister.

Several attempts to get a comment from top police officials proved futile, as they refused to speak about this politically sensitive issue.

Also read: Decoding the Fall of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar

Differences between Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surfaced again on Wednesday, as the BJP leaders including MLAs opposed the state government order to gather detailed information on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders and its subsidiary outfits.

It was reported earlier that special branch of Bihar police was directed to gather detailed information about the state functionaries of the RSS and its 18 subsidiary outfits including Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. This letter was issued by the special branch on May 28, two days before the swearing in of the Narendra Modi Cabinet. BJP leaders have expressed surprise over the order and have opposed this action.

On the other hand, JD(U) leaders are maintaining that they have no information about any such letter issued by the state police.

This is not the first time that the differences between JD(U) and BJP have come to the fore. In May, JD(U) had refused to join the Union Cabinet for being offered just a symbolic representation. It was reportedly CM Nitish Kumar who had taken this decision, and it was followed by another development that exposed the widening rift between the two.

After being left high and dry by the top BJP leadership, Nitish Kumar expanded his cabinet by inducting eight ministers from his party – not including any BJP leader. However, he later claimed that the BJP was offered a few positions on which, the party was expected to take a decision later.

Last month, a few senior BJP leaders had questioned Nitish Kumar over deteriorating law and order in the state and had embarrassed him by pointing to the failure of the government in connection with the death of over 150 children from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur.

On the other hand, Nitish Kumar has made it clear time and again that his party will not support BJP on issues like Triple Talaq Bill or Article 370.

Against this backdrop, the latest order regarding RSS leaders has added only fuel to the fire. BJP MLA Sanjay Saravgi said, “Why is the government seeking information about RSS leaders? This is objectionable.”

He added that there should be an investigation into why such order has been passed.

Another BJP MLA, Nitin Navin, said that it was wrong the way police wanted to gather such information. “We will take this issue up with the top leaders of the BJP soon.”

Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Sanjay Paswan told NewsClick that this is a serious issue. “We and the RSS are taking this issue seriously and will take it up with the government,” he said.

Both Saravgi and Paswan are considered to be close to the RSS in the state.

Interestingly, none of the BJP ministers in the state have made any comment on this issue in the public, nor has any other senior BJP leader.

“RSS is a nationalist organisation. There is no doubt about it. RSS functionaries, from top to bottom, have been working for the nation. We will put pressure on the state government to retrieve such an order,” said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, opposition parties Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and the Left have said that the Nitish Kumar government has rightly passed such an order. “If Bihar government is trying to gather information on RSS leaders to tighten the noose and keep watch on their activities, why are the BJP leaders opposing it?” said a Congress leader.

Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra has welcomed the state police order and said that the state government has a right to gather this information.

According to officials at police headquarters here, Special Branch, the intelligence wing of the state police, receives briefing directly from the chief minister.

Several attempts to get a comment from top police officials proved futile, as they refused to speak about this politically sensitive issue.

Also read: Decoding the Fall of Mahagathbandhan in Bihar