NEW DELHI: As the Modi government approaches two years of its tenure and spate of elections to state assemblies, Opposition is looking at possible realignment. But the JDU chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar idea of forming an anti-BJP front, has been ridiculed by the ruling party.
The BJP said those talking of forming front against it are hungry for power, while Prime Minister was busy delivering. The party made it clear that it was unfazed by efforts to form a united front to counter it and said such attempts to stop the Modi government "from working for the development of the country and for the poor will not succeed".
The saffron party will even hit back at Nitish Kumar who called for a 'Sangh-mukt' (Sangh-free) country to save democracy, BJP said critics of RSS should at least attend its 'shakha' for a day to clear their misconceptions.
Addressing an event in Patna, Nitish Kumar had on Saturday mounted a counter-offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 'Congress-mukt Bharat' slogan, by coining a new one "Sangh-mukt Bharat.”
The Opposition’s attack on NDA government was also focused on BJP’s ideological mentor, the RSS. As all the opposition leaders ranging from Left, Congress and JDU attacked the RSS to take on the government.
BJP counter Nitish Kumar’s latest salvo on RSS saying, "Nitish Kumar has called for an RSS-free India. But you were in alliance with the BJP. But you have called for a Sangh-free India. It is better you learn and understand the Sangh and for that you visit a Shakha,” BJP secretary and spokesperson Shrikant Sharma said.
He added that from Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi, and from Rajiv Gandhi to Sonia Gandhi, all had opposed the RSS but the organisation has only grown.
Referring to Opposition unit, Sharma said that everyone was aware of JD(U) leader's national ambitions. Taking a dig at the Congress, Sharma asked party President Sonia Gandhi to make it clear if Rahul Gandhi will lead such a front or will he be just part of it.
Questioning the unity efforts, BJP leader said ‘The attempt is only to stop the Modi government to take steps for development of the country, to stop job
opportunities for the youth and to stop the government from helping the poor."
RSS ideologue M G Vaidya said efforts to attack the Sangh will only backfire. "They can't defeat the BJP on their own. May be they will gain a bit by coming together. As far as Sangh is concerned... when there are increased protests against the Sangh, it grows. "Sangh does not grow at someone's mercy but because of the hard work and capability of its workers," he said.
Senior BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's endeavour to create a front at the national against BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls is "still in the embryo". "How far Nitish Kumar will be able to bring like minded parties together along with Congress, that too on a national platform, that too as an alternative to the BJP, is still in the embryo," Mahtab said.