Though it will be too early to predict if Ali’s induction will benefit the BJP, one thing is clear that the ruling party at the Centre has given a ready-made agenda on the platter of their arch rivals in the state — Nitish Kumar-led JD (U), Lalu Prasad Yadav headed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress.
Senior BJP leaders have welcomed Ali’s re-induction, while the Opposition have accused the party of roping in a person, who was dubbed as a “friend” of terrorist Yasin Bhatkal by senior party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in March last year.
“By re-inducting Ali for the second time, the BJP has shown its real face to people. It is an irony that instead of registering a complaint against him, the party is offering to cover up his actions. It was BJP leader Naqvi, who had accused Ali of being a “friend” of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, and by re-inducting him into the party, it is clear that the BJP will not act against anti-national forces,” said JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.
He added: “Ali’s re-induction is not going to help the BJP get a slice of minority votes as he is immaterial in the minority community. The move is set to <g data-gr-id="46">back fire</g> and the BJP will lose with a huge margin in the constituencies dominated by <g data-gr-id="47">minority</g> community.”
Welcoming Ali, a native of East Champaran, Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said: “Ali has fought against discrimination towards the minority community and wants to contribute to the cause further by joining the BJP. We welcome him.”
Senior leader and MoS for MSME Giriraj Singh said: “Ali is welcome to the party. His re-induction will help a lot.” He stressed that the party is ready to induct any <g data-gr-id="44">leader,who</g> is not an anti-national.
It must be recalled that Singh, who has been rewarded a ministerial berth in the Narendra Modi government, had hit the headlines in April last year for making anti-minority statements. Singh had said, “Those who want to stop Narendra Modi from becoming the Prime Minister will have no place in India in coming days. They will only have <g data-gr-id="49">place</g> in Pakistan.”
Ali was a JD(U) MP till March <g data-gr-id="39">2014,</g> when he was expelled from the party for praising Modi, BJP’s then PM candidate. He joined the BJP on March <g data-gr-id="42">28,</g> but was expelled the very next day after his induction faced severe criticism within the party, especially from vice-president Naqvi.
Avoid controversial remarks, Cong to secular alliance
A day after JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ruffled feathers with his ‘snake-sandalwood’ remark in the poll-bound state, Congress on Thursday said leaders of the secular alliance should avoid making statements that hurt sentiments of any of its partner. “<g data-gr-id="92">Rahiman</g> <g data-gr-id="93">dhaaga</g> prem ka, mat toro <g data-gr-id="94">chatkaay</g>, <g data-gr-id="95">toote</g> to <g data-gr-id="96">phir</g> <g data-gr-id="97">na</g> <g data-gr-id="98">jure</g>, <g data-gr-id="99">jure</g> <g data-gr-id="100">gaanth</g> par <g data-gr-id="101">jaay</g> (The thin thread of love should not be broken as even if it is rejoined later, there will be <g data-gr-id="102">knot</g>),” Bihar Congress president Ashok Choudhary cautioned Kumar, citing a popular <g data-gr-id="103">couplet</g> of legendary poet Rahim.
“Alliance is a sensitive issue, hence everybody shall be cautious that any of his/ her statement do not hurt ego of partner parties leaders,” Choudhary said while reacting on the controversy triggered by Kumar likening himself to ‘chandan’ (sandalwood), which remains unaffected despite “snakes” wriggling around it. “The fight (Bihar poll) is a bigger one. Such things create confusion among workers of partner parties at the <g data-gr-id="105">grassroot</g> level,” he said.
The CM’s remarks in response to a question had on Wednesday created a flutter in Bihar as it was seen directed against his ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, Kumar, later, clarified that he was referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as snake, which despite remaining with him for over seven years in Bihar in the NDA government could not succeed in diverting him from his sole agenda of carrying out development in the state.