Fed up with the Lalu Prasad Yadav regime, the people of Bihar had reposed faith in Nitish Kumar. However, things are back to square one in the State. Nitish Kumar had promised good governance but that seems to have changed into self-government, centered on the lust for power. That is why, on the call of my conscience, on 8 December 2012, I resigned from the primary membership of the Janata Dal (United) (JDU) party as well as from the membership of the Upper House. I have decided to announce the launching of a new party at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan on 3 March, 2013. This party will not only strengthen the politics of Bihar but also work for inclusive
social change.
The hopes that the people had pegged on Nitish Kumar have been belied in the last seven years of JDU rule. Nitish Kumar has turned arrogant. The people are sick of his authoritarian ways. There can be no hope of social justice from those who divide dalits into Mahadalits and other Dalits just for the sake of votebank politics. The government’s scheme of allotting 3 decimals of land has been confined to papers. The promises made to the Kushwaha community were forgotten after the electoral victory. The promises were used only to garner votes. The slogan of ‘Lav-Kush’ has proved to be just a mirage for the community. The educational standards have fallen so low that the academic world of the state will have to pay a heavy price for it. Bihar is witnessing the worst form of brain drain. The educated have nothing to do in Bihar. Anti-government sentiment is getting stronger by the day. Corruption is at its zenith. Nothing moves without offering bribes. The government officials are neck deep in corruption. The police do not think twice before using lathis and guns to crush people’s movements. The officers are running amok. There is no control over them. There is nothing like law and order in the state.
The Nitish government is not willing to listen to anything or anyone. Whosoever tries to instill some sense into the government is dealt with an iron hand. Some time back, a girl was gang-raped in Patna. A month after the incident, even her FIR has not been registered. Incidents of dacoities are growing by the day in the state. No attempt is being made to counter the dacoits. In the name of secularism, Nitish Kumar is playing the politics of power. The youth are being misled. They are being told that nothing can improve in the fields of education and employment unless the Bihar gets ‘special state’ status. But the youth are not ready to wait any longer. They have waited long enough. They have been patient for long. In the last seven-eight years, only dreams have been sold in the name of growth in industry and commerce. The result is that large-scale migration of both the educated students and workers wanting to fill their stomachs is continuing unabated. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it has increased.
Nothing can be written against the Nitish government in the media of the state. If someone tries, he is severely penalized. In short, the conditions in Bihar are the same as they were when we had launched a battle against ‘jungle raj’ in the state with the support of the common man.
The media has a key role to play in social change. In this context, FORWARD Press deserves all the praise for giving a voice to the common people and the Backward communities. Magazines like this apprise the people of the ground situation and introduce them to true history. This will make them aware. My good wishes to the magazine. I am confident that the magazine will touch new heights in the field of journalism. Happy New Year.
Published in the February 2013 issue of the Forward Press magazine
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