Bihar saw an almost unprecedented violent backlash following the rollout of the Agneepath military recruitment scheme, which only paralleled during the anti-reservation agitation in the 1990s when the state and the rest of the country raged on for weeks.
The youths torched trains and railway stations, and vandalized public properties without any hindrance, giving rise to the question of why the Bihar Police did not take adequate action against the rioters in time.
The authorities registered 159 FIRs and arrested over 877 people who either participated in or incited the violence, but it came too little and too late.
State Bharatiya Janata Party leaders questioned the government: Why were the police not instructed to act and arrest the rioters?
This was raised by state BJP chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal after several party offices were set on fire in the state despite heavy presence of police personnel. His own home in West Champaran (Bettiah) was also targeted by dozens of miscreants who were probably not “aspirant”.
“Had the police been active, violence on a large scale would not have been possible,” Jaiswal said.
The BJP offices suffered so much that paramilitary forces had to be deployed for security.
BJP’s Madhepura office was set ablaze in the presence of hundreds of policemen. This has also angered the top party leaders of the state.
Two deputy chief ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, who represent the BJP in the government, had to bear the brunt of the mob’s anger.
Several other firebrand MLAs and MPs were given Y-category security cover by the Centre, indicating that it no longer has enough faith in the Bihar Police.
There is growing unease over the issue of ‘agneepath’ protest between the ruling BJP and the JD(U) as law and order is a state subject and is directly under the command of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
JD(U) chief Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh reprimanded his counterpart by saying that the decision to implement the Agneepath scheme was taken by the central government and the youth reacted accordingly. The Center should allay the fear of the youth. Why is the BJP accusing the administration in the first place? Chief Minister Nitish Kumar He said that he is able to handle the state well as he is known for his good governance.
As state leaders are embroiled in squabbles, accusations and counter-allegations, Nitish Kumar is silent and has not reacted to the widespread student protests that have caused massive damage to railway properties in Bihar.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, on the other hand, is likely to form an alliance in the event the Janata Dal (United) splits from the BJP. But it may prove to be a pipe dream as the BJP leadership will not risk the alliance, even if state leaders are displeased with the way the agitation is being handled in Bihar.
It is believed that both the sides have been told to remain silent and not to say anything that can further spoil the relationship.
Top leaders of both the parties have realized that not much can be done about what happened but the future of the government can be secure only if the top leaders keep talking to each other on some important issues.
Senior JD(U) leader Upendra Kushwaha had also stressed on the need to form a coordination committee to resolve differences, but the decision has been pending for over a year.
Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, another constituent of the ruling coalition, also said that a coordination committee is the only way to resolve the long pending issues.
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