Fifteen Opposition parties with one aim: to contest the next Lok Sabha polls and “dethrone the BJP”. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been powerful enough to make its counterparts eye the power, prestige and honour. The recent coalition parties meeting at Patna was symbolic of that. The next meeting is reportedly scheduled to be held in Shimla with the aim of charting the future course of action as pointed out by Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, in a joint press conference. In the midst of fuelling up agendas like dethroning the current Ruling Paty of a nation is when claims as to how the Modi Government is standing tall due to its predecessor, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). This statement was made by the Senior Congress Leader P Chidambaram in light of the recent listing of the centre’s achievements by the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. The backdrop of the meeting and the current politic atmosphere resonates with the political heat in India escalating.
BJP Worker Shot in the Midst of Chaos: Is it a Conspiracy?
During a party meeting in Madhepura, a district in Bihar, an incident occurred where members from opposing factions of the BJP engaged in a physical altercation and subsequently fired shots. As a result, a BJP worker sustained gunshot wounds. The meeting had to be postponed, and one BJP leader was apprehended and subsequently imprisoned, according to the police. The purpose of the gathering was to conduct the BJP’s Maha Jansampark Abhiyan, aiming to showcase the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over the past nine years. Expected attendees included former Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad, former minister Neeraj Kumar Babloo, and local BJP leader Ravindra Charan Yadav.
Prior to the meeting officially commencing, a dispute arose between BJP workers Pankaj Kumar Nirala and Sanjay Kumar Bhagat over an undisclosed matter. In an agitated state, Nirala resorted to discharging his licensed firearm, causing injuries to Bhagat, who was hit in the waist. Bhagat was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, as confirmed by SDPO Ajay Narayan Yadav.
“We have apprehended Nirala along with his pistol and placed him under arrest, subsequently sending him to jail. Additionally, steps are being taken to revoke the license for his pistol”
Stated the SDPO in a press release, revealing that the altercation stemmed from a financial dispute.
However, the accused individual informed the media that he was fired in self-defence. Witnesses recounted that the gunshots incited chaos within the meeting venue as rival factions engaged in physical altercations. Television footage displayed the groups exchanging blows with sticks and throwing plastic chairs in an outpouring of anger. BJP district president Deepak Kumar was also assaulted when he attempted to intervene, as per reports.
The situation only came under control once the police arrived and used batons to pacify the warring groups. Former Deputy CM Prasad mentioned that he refrained from attending the meeting after being informed of the incident. “Just as I was preparing to depart for the meeting, I received news of the quarrel and decided to cancel my visit. The meeting has been postponed,” Prasad reportedly informed.
Way Forward
The BJP has been conducting the Jan Sampark Abhiyan throughout the state to raise awareness about the accomplishments of the Modi government at the national level. Overall, it is to be observed and catered that violence like this in a country which fosters the principle of non-violence shall be investigated. Meetings should be conducted with the view of bringing positive change with positive agendas. Support and balance need to be established.
