Bihar BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from the upcoming Hindu Swabhiman Yatra of Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh that is to begin from Bhagalpur on October 18.
"His yatra is not associated with the BJP. The yatra of Giriraj Singh is not happening under the banner of the BJP," said Bihar party chief Dilip Jaiswal while assuring that the yatra will not affect Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's secularism agenda.
"There is nothing to be worried about the yatra," said the BJP chief.
It is scheduled to start on October 18 from Bhagalpur and conclude on October 22 from Kishanganj. Along the way, it passes through Katihar, Purnea, and Araria, areas with considerable Muslim populations.
While the Bihar BJP was scathing in its criticism of the yatra, where Singh was absent no less, these political sensitivities focus attention on how fragile the BJP-JD-U alliance is. Further, that it was distance rather than outright rejection also suggests pressure might be mounting upon JD-U and Nitish Kumar's government at a time when communal politics is on the rise in this region.
JD-U Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar condemned Giriraj Singh's decision to undertake the yatra for which Singh claimed it is to "raise the Hindus of Bihar" on the pretext of incidents in Bangladesh.
On Jharkhand Assembly elections and the Bihar bypolls, BJPs state chief said that the party will announce its candidates by October 18 or 19.
He has also said that an understanding has been reached with JD-U on seat-sharing for the Jharkhand elections and is hopeful about further cooperation.
On Prashant Kishor, the BJP chief said he was a "professional" and "future speaker" while referring to Kishor's earlier remarks attacking the BJP probable candidate for the Tarari by-poll.
He has also criticized Kishor for advocating the lifting of Bihar's liquor prohibition law, which has been a sensitive topic in the state.
Condemning Tejashwi Yadav's comment on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's health, he said nobody should make a remark about somebody's health.
"Such a thing may one day happen to Tejashwi Yadav himself," he said.
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