BJP TODAY

October 16--31, 2005 - Vol. 14, No. 20

There is no law and order in Bihar. It is complete jungle raj, many people believe. Even courts have said so. There is no doubt that mafia dons rule the roost. The likes of Shahabuddin brazenly appear in University examinations, but the Bihar police instead of arresting him to honour the court arrest warrants, seem to be providing protection to him and help him escape. Yet, if anybody still entertained any doubts, his doubts should be clear from the latest instance of Bihar living up to its image of lawlessness when senior BJP leader and former Union minister Shri Ravishankar Prasad was shot at during an election meeting at Nokha, barely 25 km from the state capital.

Shri Prasad along with BJP General Secretary Shri Pramod Mahajan and local MLA Shri Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia were on the dais to address the public meeting. As soon as Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad finished his speech and Shri Mahajan took over the microphone to address the meeting, a man climbed on the dais and opened fire at Shri Prasad with a country made pistol from close range. The assailant was immediately overpowered and was reported thrashed by the irate crowd. Shri Prasad sustained injury in his left arm. It is a tribute to the commitment of Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad that he braved the threat to his life and did not buckle.

Several leaders here believe that the two term BJP MIA from Nokha, Shri Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia could have been the real target. Incidentally, the Nokha MLA is one of the petitioners challenging the dissolution of the state assembly in the Supreme Court.

Expressing concern over the incident, the state BJP leadership said the EC must act and review the security arrangements for ensuring security to the leaders of stature. It felt that the Nokha incident could not have occurred if the local administration had provided security at the venue of the election meeting.

UPA frustration

Observers feel that it was definitely a case of laxity in providing adequate security to candidates and at election rally. How could an intruder with a pistol climb up the dais if the security was adequate, they wonder. More surprising is the planting of the story that the alleged links of assailant with VHP.

Political observers also discern frustration in the ranks of UPA, particularly RJD, from the election campaign trends which do not seem to be going as per their expectations. The Supreme Court was also said to be delivering its verdict on the Bihar assembly dissolution the next day.

It may be recalled that the police failed to take note of the complaint of Shri Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia and provide protection to him. In his complaint to the local Police Shri Chaurasia had alleged that unidentified persons opposed to his petition in the apex court against the dissolution of the house, had attempted to eliminate him by attacking his vehicle near the Mufassil police station.