PATNA: A day after JD(U) Sitamarhi MP Devesh Chandra Thakur‘s comment against “Yadavs, Muslims and Kushwahas” for not voting in his favour in the election, the party on Tuesday distanced itself from the statement, saying it believes in equal treatment to all, even as villagers in Vaishali district put up posters warning the MP not to travel this route.The villagers also decided to observe a protest fast on Wednesday to seek suitable action against the JD(U) MP.
“Yah Yadav, Kushwaha aur Musalman ka gaon hai. Kripya is gaon ke sadak se sansad mahoday Devesh Chandra Thakur na jayen (This is a village of Yadavs, Kushwahas and Muslims. MP Devesh Chandra Thakur is advised not to pass through the village),” read messages on posters hung from walls and trees.
Angry villagers also took out a protest march demanding the MP’s resignation and the registration of case against him for publicly targeting the communities.
Describing Thakur’s comment that he wouldn’t do “any work for Yadavs, Muslims and Kushwahas” as they didn’t vote for him, JDU) national spokesperson Rajib Ranjan said, “This is Thakur’s personal statement. JD(U) has nothing to do with that.”
Ranjan, however, added that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been working for all castes and communities without bias. “We give equal treatment to all castes,” he said.
Thakur, who served as Bihar Legislative Council chairman before being elected to the Lok Sabha, finds himself isolated following his comment. BJP OBC Morcha general secretary Nikhil Anand strongly criticised the statement. “The expression of MP Devesh Chandra Thakur is inflicted with caste-based vendetta, frustration and ill-will, which is shameful and must be condemned,” Anand said.
Stating that BJP respects all communities and believes in taking everyone along, Anand said any political party or the state cannot benefit by ignoring the Yadav community, which constitutes 14% of Bihar’s population.
“We will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to marginalise and victimise the Yadavs or any OBC community. Today, there are 27 ministers from the OBC community in the central government, while there are four ministers from the Yadav community, which proves PM Narendra Modiji’s resolve and commitment towards the politics of social harmony and social justice,” Anand added.
HAM(S), headed by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, also differed with Thakur’s comment. “If we target particular castes, communities and religions, then this is not good for a healthy democracy,” HAM(S) national spokesperson Nandlal Manjhi said.
“Once elected, they represent the entire constituency, and it hardly matters who voted for him/her or not. They should forget poll bitterness and work for all communities,” senior LJP(RV) official Sanjay Paswan said.
“Yah Yadav, Kushwaha aur Musalman ka gaon hai. Kripya is gaon ke sadak se sansad mahoday Devesh Chandra Thakur na jayen (This is a village of Yadavs, Kushwahas and Muslims. MP Devesh Chandra Thakur is advised not to pass through the village),” read messages on posters hung from walls and trees.
Angry villagers also took out a protest march demanding the MP’s resignation and the registration of case against him for publicly targeting the communities.
Describing Thakur’s comment that he wouldn’t do “any work for Yadavs, Muslims and Kushwahas” as they didn’t vote for him, JDU) national spokesperson Rajib Ranjan said, “This is Thakur’s personal statement. JD(U) has nothing to do with that.”
Ranjan, however, added that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has been working for all castes and communities without bias. “We give equal treatment to all castes,” he said.
Thakur, who served as Bihar Legislative Council chairman before being elected to the Lok Sabha, finds himself isolated following his comment. BJP OBC Morcha general secretary Nikhil Anand strongly criticised the statement. “The expression of MP Devesh Chandra Thakur is inflicted with caste-based vendetta, frustration and ill-will, which is shameful and must be condemned,” Anand said.
Stating that BJP respects all communities and believes in taking everyone along, Anand said any political party or the state cannot benefit by ignoring the Yadav community, which constitutes 14% of Bihar’s population.
“We will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to marginalise and victimise the Yadavs or any OBC community. Today, there are 27 ministers from the OBC community in the central government, while there are four ministers from the Yadav community, which proves PM Narendra Modiji’s resolve and commitment towards the politics of social harmony and social justice,” Anand added.
HAM(S), headed by Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, also differed with Thakur’s comment. “If we target particular castes, communities and religions, then this is not good for a healthy democracy,” HAM(S) national spokesperson Nandlal Manjhi said.
“Once elected, they represent the entire constituency, and it hardly matters who voted for him/her or not. They should forget poll bitterness and work for all communities,” senior LJP(RV) official Sanjay Paswan said.
