As communal tension erupted during Ram Navami celebrations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his visit to Sasaram in Bihar, where prohibitory orders are in effect, according to state Bharatiya Janata Party chief Samrat Choudhary.
While firmly blaming the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for the cancellation of the function at Sasaram, planned to celebrate the birth anniversary of Emperor Asoka, Choudhary said Shah, who will be arriving in Patna on Saturday evening, will address party workers in Nawada Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday as scheduled.
“It is clear that Nitish Kumar is not in control of the administration. Even Bihar Sharif, which falls in the chief minister’s home district of Nalanda, is in turmoil. So are many other parts of the state,” said Choudhary.
Nityanand Rai, the Union Home Minister of State, said that despite his willingness to provide the state government with additional forces as needed, the entire administrative apparatus appeared to be dozing off.
“The imposition of Section 144 of CrPC in Sasaram is a clear indication that no large gatherings can take place. Hence, the honourable Home Minister has cancelled his visit to the town for Samrat Ashok’s birth anniversary celebrations,” said the state BJP president, whose party was last year dumped by Kumar, resulting in loss of power in Bihar.
Shah, who is widely considered as the BJP’s chief strategist, has been travelling to Bihar more frequently than ever since the party lost power and found itself up against the Mahagathbandhan, a coalition of other parties that Kumar has joined.
With Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP dissolved and his Janata Dal-United in the opposition camp, the BJP-led NDA, which won all but one of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, would have a difficult road ahead of it in 2024.
Shah is anticipated to check into a city hotel upon his arrival in the state capital on Saturday evening and hold discussions with party leaders. To assess the situation on the ground, the Home Minister could also meet with administrative officials.
Drones have been positioned in addition to security personnel at places Shah is anticipated to visit before boarding his return flight on Sunday afternoon. Strict security measures are in place for the tour.
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