Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday met Bajrang Dal and and Vishva Hindu Parishad workers, who are currently in Nawada jail of Bihar on the accusations of rioting.
After the visit – which comes days after his cabinet colleague Jayant Sinha felicitated eight men held guilty of killing a meat trader in the name of cow protection — Giriraj Singh attacked the Nitish Kumar government.
The Union Minister expressed his grief over the arrest of the activists saying that they were framed. “It is unfortunate the way Jitu Ji and Kailash Ji have been framed. When tension arose during Ram Navami in 2017, they resumed peace in the area. They did the same when an idol of goddess Durga was vandalised in Akbarpur.”
After the Ram Navmi clashes in April 2017, the police lodged cases against some leaders in several districts. Bajrang Dal’s Jitendra Pratap and VHP’s Kailash Vishwakarma were arrested four days ago for their alleged role in the clashes.
The BJP has already expressed its unhappiness over the crackdown on scores of leaders over the violence that started in April 2017 after religious posters were found torn.
“It is very saddening to see that the government feels that communal harmony will be there only if they suppress Hindus. I request the State government and the society to let go of this kind of attitude,” said Singh.
On July 3, Bajrang Dal convenor Jitendra Pratap was arrested for the riots in 2017. On July 4, the supporters of Pratap protested against the arrest and took to the streets, which led to the arrest of five people.
Last month, Giriraj Singh waded in when Mr Kumar’s party leaders pitched to make him the face of the NDA in the state in next year’s assembly elections. Giriraj Singh and BJP general secretary Rajendra Singh indicated that Nitish Kumar is not indispensable. Even without him, the BJP-led alliance was willing to contest Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats and like 2014, end up with 29, they hinted.
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