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Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for fourth time, has his task cut out

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File photo.

File photo.

Patna: Back in the saddle for the fourth time in the politically important state of Bihar, Nitish Kumar is known as Chanakya in state politics for his carefully crafted behind-the-scene moves and his emphasis on growth and development.

The soft-spoken senior JD(U) leader has his task cut out this time as the state is in election mode with polls just five months away.

With today’s swearing in, 63-year-old Kumar is back in the Chief Minister’s chair he had quit on May 17, 2014 over JD(U)’s debacle in the general election.

After stepping down, Kumar, despite resistance from JD(U) legislators against his resignation, had his way and handpicked Jitan Ram Manjhi to succeed him on May 20, 2014.

But, within eight months of the decision Kumar was forced to change the plot in the wake of dissent against him by Manjhi along with a section of JD(U) ministers and legislators.

BJP used the dissension to the hilt and extended support to Manjhi. But, the floor test could not be taken as Manjhi tendered his resignation ahead of the vote on Friday last.

With the swearing in, a major crisis for Kumar has ended but some big challenges lie ahead for the socialist leader.

Besides, repairing the “damage” done by Manjhi to “sushasan” (good governance) as Kumar said on Friday, the wily politician has to allay the fears of people that company of RJD leader Lalu Prasad, who has been convicted in a fodder scam case, does not mean return of “jungle raj” as alleged by rival BJP.

This would have serious repercussion for Kumar, as he has to lead his party JD(U) and allies RJD, Congress and CPI to Assembly election in the state before November 25 this year.

During his earlier stint as chief minister, Kumar had initiated a series of reforms and stressed on increasing enrolment of students, building roads and bridges and improving healthcare facilities.

BJP, whose relations with Kumar turned bitter after he led his party to severe ties with it on June 16, 2013 following elevation of Narendra Modi, has already coined a slogan “jungle raj II” , warning people of “looming danger of Kumar joining hands with Lalu”.

Kumar has defended his decision to join hands with Lalu, saying the bigger challenge at present was to take on BJP.

Recently he used the title of a Bollywood film “Main Hoon Na” to instill confidence in people and give a guarantee that nothing bad would happen till he was around.

The engineer-turned-politician’s first tenure as Chief Minister was for just seven days from March 3 to March 10, 2000 when he had to quit in the absence of majority. He returned to the CM’s chair on November 24, 2005 as NDA leader.

His third term started from November 26, 2010 when he led NDA to win a two-third majority with 206 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly.

After parting company with BJP, the magic figure of 117 eluded him which he cobbled up only with the help of Congress and CPI.

His support base increased after joining hands with RJD during by-election to two Rajya Sabha seats in middle of last year.

However, the drubbing JD(U) received in the 2014 Parliamentary poll forced him to resign on May 17, 2014.

Son of a freedom fighter and a small time Congressman Kaviraj Ramlakhan Singh, Kumar was born on March 1, 1951.

Nicknamed “Munna”, Kumar got married to a school teacher Manju Sinha in 1973. She died after illness in 2007. He has a son named Nishant Kumar.

A degree holder in electrical engineering from Patna Engineering college, now an NIT, Kumar is a product of 1974 JP movement and has been an ardent follower of Rammanohar Lohia and Jayprakash Narayan.

For Kumar, success in politics came very late. He contested Assembly election for the first time from home turf Harnaut in Nalanda district on Janata Party ticket in 1977 but lost to Independent Arun Kumar Singh.

He faced another drubbing at the hands of Arun Singh, an accused in the infamous Belchhi massacre case in which Dalits were killed, in Harnaut in 1980.

After two losses, luck smiled on him in 1985 when he won from Harnaut in 1985 as a Lok Dal candidate. Since then, there has been no looking back for him.

Close to Chaudhary Devi Lal, Kumar’s inning in national politics started when he contested Lok Sabha election from Barh in 1989 and defeated veteran Congress leader Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav popularly called “Sher-e-Bihar.”

Kumar became Minister of State for Agriculture under Devi Lal in V P Singh government.

In 1991, he was re-elected to Lok Sabha from Barh. He again won Parliamentary elections in 1998 and 1999 but lost in 2004.

He held the Railway, Agriculture and Surface Transport ministries in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

Known in political circle as “chotta bhai” (younger brother) of Lalu Prasad, Kumar played a prominent role in making “bade bhai” Chief Minister of Bihar in 1990.

But, their relationship soured after 1994 when Kumar rebelled against his “dictatorial” attitude to walk out of the party.

(PTI)

Manjhi resigns as Bihar CM, recommends dissolution of Assembly

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Jitan Ram Manjhi

Patna: Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi resigned on Friday ahead of a crucial trust vote in the assembly, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Manjhi paid a surprise visit to Raj Bhavan an hour before the start of proceedings and tendered his resignation.

The resignation came as anti-climax to the storm within the Janata Dal (U) over the last one month, which saw Manjhi take on his one-time mentor and former chief minister Nitish Kumar with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The crisis in the state started after Manjhi was expelled from his party, the JD(U), after refusing to step down from the chief minister’s post to make way for Nitish Kumar and became an unattached member of the assembly.

But it became a regular war since February 7, when the JD(U) legislature party re-elected Kumar as its leader and showed Manjhi the door.

Kumar said that Manjhi, whom he nominated on May 20, had derailed Bihar’s growth and, more importantly, consorted with the BJP to put the JD(U) in real danger in the 2015 assembly polls.

Kumar asked governor Keshari Nath Tripathy on February 9 to swear him in within 48 hours and demonstrated the support of 130 MLAs – his own 97, plus RJD’s 24, Congress 5, CPI one and independent one —in Delhi. He even expelled Manjhi and suspended rebel ministers.

But the ever submissive and grateful Manjhi turned out to be the real rebel, refusing to quit unless defeated in a floor test.

He claimed to have mustered the support of at least 43 JD(U) MLAs — 12 more than the 31 required — to add to the 87 BJP legislators.

But then as it eventually turned out, he was well short of the halfway mark of 117, forcing him to put in his papers.

(Agencies)

Bihar political drama: JD(U) suspends seven ministers in Ram Manjhi cabinet

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Jitan Ram Manjhi

Patna: Janata Dal(U) in Bihar Tuesday suspended from its fold seven ministers owing allegiance to chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, ahead of the February 20 trial of strength for him on the floor of the Assembly.

The seven ministers were suspended by state JD(U) President Basistha Narayan Singh after receiving consent from the party’s National President Sharad Yadav, party chief whip in the Assembly Shrawan Kumar said.

The seven suspended ministers are Narendra Singh, Brishen Patel, Shahid Ali Khan, Samrat Chaudhary, Nitish Mishra, Mahachandra Prasad Singh and Bhim Singh.

Art and Culture minister Vinay Bihari is an independent. JD(U) has already expelled Manjhi from the party after which Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary declared him an unattached member.

Shrawan Kumar said the decision on the suspension was taken after the seven ministers failed to comply with the party’s direction to quit the Manjhi cabinet.

The rival camps of Manjhi and his mentor-turned-foe Nitish Kumar meanwhile held separate consultations with their supporters to firm up their strategies even as BJP refused to show its cards.

Manjhi on return from Delhi after a two-day visit headed straight to his residence and was closeted with supporters to draw up the strategy for the February 20 confidence vote.

Ministers Narendra Singh and Vinay Bihari, dissident JD(U) leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanoo and expelled JD(U) MP Shabir Ali were among others who met Manjhi at his residence.

Vinay Bihari exuded confidence of sailing through in the floor test. “We are confident of proving majority on the floor of the house on February 20,” he told reporters.

Former chief minister Nitish Kumar remained at his 7 Circular Road residence with senior party leaders who kept pouring in throughout the day.

JD(U) MLC Binod Singh is hosting a dinner for all MLAs supporting Nitish Kumar from JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI and an independent.

A similar dinner is scheduled at senior leader Vijay Chaudhary’s residence tomorrow and at Nitish Kumar’s residence on February 19, JD(U) sources said.

(PTI)

Patna High Court declares appointment of Nitish as JD(U) Legislative Party head illegal

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nitish-kumar

Patna/New Delhi: In a major setback to former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Patna High Court on Wednesday stayed his election as Janata Dal (United)’s state legislature party leader.

Kumar was elected the leader of the JDU’s legislature party leader on Monday and he had met Bihar Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi to stake claim to form government.

The JDU had even expelled Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi from JDU with immediate effect on Monday itself before electing Kumar as the party’s legislature party leader.

Claiming the support of 130 MLAs, Kumar had even paraded them at Raj Bhavan. He had requested the Governor to invite him to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Manjhi had also met the Governor on Monday and made a similar claim saying he be given an opportunity to prove majority on the floor of House.

While the Governor is yet to take a final decision in the matter, Kumar reached Delhi alongwith 130 MLAs on Tuesday in order to meet President Pranab Mukherjee.

(Agencies)

Bihar Chief minister expelled from JD(U) on charges of indiscipline

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Jitan Ram Manjhi

Bihar: JD(U) leader KC Tyagi, in a press conference, said Manjhi had been expelled from the party because he was involved in anti-party activities.

“Sharad Yadav removed Jitan Ram Manjhi as a member of the JD(U) on charges of indiscipline,” said Tyagi. “Yadav took this decision on the basis of party principle. The decision was taken on the basis of the emergency powers of the party under Article 23 of the party constitution,” he said.

Tyagi also said that the JD(U) Legislature Party meeting in which Nitish Kumar was made the leader was called by Manjhi himself. “He called the meeting because he said there were some disputes which needed to be settled. However, instead of attending the meeting, he called the meeting invalid,” said the JD(U) leader.

“Manjhi was involved in anti-party activities,” he said. Tyagi also slammed the BJP for earlier criticising the Bihar government and later on siding with Manjhi. “Earlier, Sushil Kumar Modi had said that Bihar is going towards jungle raj. When we acted on Sushil Modi’s advice (by removing Manjhi), he turned against us,” Tyagi said.

“This entire script ‘Operation Jitan Ram Manjhi’ was under the direction of Amit Shah. And Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself blessed the operation,” said Tyagi.

The JD(U) leader also challenged Manjhi to prove his majority on the floor of the House. “Manjhi just has 12 supporters…Within 48 hours, either Manjhi needs to prove his majority to the Governor or Nitish should become CM and show his majority,” he said.

(Agencies)

Three killed, many injured in bomb blast in Bihar court

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The blast took place when some prisoners were being brought to the court lock-up and it seems to be a plot to help prisoners escape.

The police said a woman was carrying the bomb and was killed when it exploded.

The police said a woman was carrying the bomb and was killed when it exploded.

Patna: A suspected woman suicide bomber detonated a crude bomb at the Ara Civil Court, in the Bhojpur district of Bihar, killing herself, a police constable and an undertrial, and injuring 16 others on Thursday.

The blast took place when a van carrying undertrials for production in the court entered the premises and they were being taken to the court lock-up. The police suspect the woman, aged 35-40, was a human bomb.

Local officials said that two undertrials escaped in the chaos following the blast. One out of the two under-trials, who fled was identified as Lambu Sharma, according to a PTI report.

Sixteen others, who sustained serious injuries in the incident, have been rushed to the local hospital. Two of the injured are said to be in a serious condition. Police officials are at the blast site and are investigating the case. The injured include lawyers and policemen.

Agencies reported that R K Singh, the Member of Parliament from Ara, confirmed the blast saying that it seems to be a plot to help some prisoners escape. The police, however, ruled out the possibility of the blast being a terror attack, according to television reports.

According to an official at the Bihar chief minister’s office, the Union Home Ministry has sought a report on the incident.

Agenceis said that the woman entered the court premises at Ara carrying the bomb in her purse. She detonated the crude bomb when the undertrials being brought to the court were disembarking from the van.

There was panic in the court premises following the bomb blast and in town of Ara. Security in the court premises has been beefed up following the blast.

Hindu widow saved 10 Muslims in Bihar riots

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Four people were killed in the riots that broke out in Bihar's Muzaffarpur.

Four people were killed in the riots that broke out in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur.

Azizpur: A Hindu woman who saved lives of 10 Muslims in this village in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district during the recent clashes in which five people died is being hailed as a hero, officials said.

Shail Devi, a frail widow in her early 50s, risking her own life, gave shelter to her Muslim neighbours when a mob of more than 5,000 people attacked Azizpur Bahilwara village after a 20-year-old Hindu boy’s body was found Sunday.

He was allegedly abducted and killed over his love affair with a Muslim girl.

“I provided shelter to my Muslim neighbours to save their lives because the mob could have killed them,” Shail said Wednesday morning.

Shail, a poor woman fighting for her survival like many others in this village, told IANS that she along with her two daughters stood guard outside her house when a mob was targeting Muslims in the village. She told them that it was a house of a ‘Mallah’ (fisherman).

“I lied to rioters that I had not given shelter to Muslims in my house. Though some people tried to enter my house but I stopped them and they returned,” she said.

Shail, widow of late Jaglal Sahni, has become a household name in the village and neighbouring villages for her rare example of communal harmony.

“She has proved again that humanity is still alive, we are proud of her,” Arvind Kumar, a villager, said.

Ash Mohammad, a man in his 60s, who was one of the ten Muslims whose lives were saved by Shail, told IANS that she is like ‘farishta’ (angel) to them.

“Shail was like god-sent angel to us…,” Mohammad said.

Mohammad admitted that all of them could have been killed if Shail had not given shelter to them.

A day after she saved lives of her Muslim neighbours, some Hindu villagers warned her that she may be targeted by some people of the mob for doing it, Shail said.

“I was so frightened that I along with my two daughters and a son Monday took shelter in Mohammad’s house but after district administration persuaded, I returned to my home,” she said.

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who visited the village Wednesday, met Shail. He lauded her role and compared her with legendary Rani Lakshmibai.

Manjhi also announced a cash reward of Rs.51,000 for her.

“She is an example of communal harmony. People should take lesson from her and she would inspire others to follow her,” Manjhi praised her.

Manjhi also announced assistance of Rs.20,000 each to her two unmarried daughters under a welfare scheme.

Earlier, Bihar Information Technology Minister Shahid Ali Khan also praised Shail for saving the lives of her Muslim neighbours.

“I promised her help by the state government, and a reward for her soon,” said Khan, who visited the village Tuesday.

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered Monday against 2,000 unidentified people and 12 named accused who were part of the mob that attacked the villagers from a particular community, the official added.

Police have already arrested 14 people in this connection.

Additional Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey submitted an inquiry report on the incident Tuesday to the state government.

Soon after the incident, Manjhi asked Pandey and state Home Secretary Sudhir Kumar to conduct a probe and report to him.

The BJP Tuesday demanded a judicial probe into the killing of four people and arson in a village that later turned into a communal clash in Bihar.

(IANS)

3 burned to death in Hindu-Muslim clash in Muzaffarpur, Bihar

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Representational image: Photo: Rahi Gaikwad, The Hindu

Representational image: Photo: Rahi Gaikwad, The Hindu

Patna: At least three Muslim villagers were burned to death Sunday when their thatched huts were set on fire during a clash between Hindu and Muslim groups in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, a government official said.

Atul Prasad, a Bihar state administrator, said the violence erupted after the body of a young Hindu boy was found in Sarayian village more than a week after he went missing.

Prasad said Hindu fishermen blamed Muslims for killing the boy who was friendly with a Muslim girl from the village, 105 kilometers (65 miles) north of Patna, the capital of Bihar state.

The charred bodies of three Muslims were found in the burned huts in the poor community, he said.

Police arrested eight Hindu men, and Prasad said the situation remains tense but under control in the village.

As many as 400 policemen, including 40 police officers, were camping in the village to monitor the law and order situation which was tense, but under control, the SSP said. Kumar had gone missing from the village on January 9.

(With inputs from AP)

Bajrang Dal attacks Christian Bhawan in Bihar town

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Bajrang Dal

Patna: A group of Bajrang Dal activists Sunday attacked and vandalized the Christian Bhawan (building) at a Bihar town, police said.

The incident created panic among the small Christian community, who demanded police protection for their security in Jehanabad town of the same district, 52km from Patna.

“Some Bajrang Dal activists attacked and vandalized the Christian Bhawan at Jehanabad town,” a district police official said.

They were apparently protesting against the alleged conversion of poor Hindus by Christians.

They also blocked National Highway 83 connecting state capital Patna to Gaya district.

Later, however, the accusation of conversion was proved baseless.

According to police, the activists attacked the building at Jehanabad because the Christian priest at the bhawan had allegedly lured poor Hindus into converting. The latter told the police that some people had informed them that Christians had been practising conversion at the bhawan.

“The fact was that local Christian residents used to gather at the bhawan for weekly prayers as well as to socialise with each other. There was no evidence of conversion,” police officials said.

In the last one-and-half months, more than 200 poor Hindus, mostly Mahadalits, embraced Christianity across the state.

The right-wing Hindu organisations – RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal – have alleged that the poor Hindus were lured into conversion.

(IANS)

Take Rs. 50,000 and abort, Bihar panchayat tells raped girl

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panchayat

Patna: A panchayat in Bihar has ordered a girl, who was raped by four brothers and is now seven months pregnant, to take Rs 50,000 and undergo an abortion, police said on Thursday.

“The victim along with her mother and informed me that four brothers of her village raped her seven months back and now she is seven months pregnant,” said police official Sweta Gupta over telephone from Kishanganj, about 400 km from here.

“When she approached the village panchayat, seeking justice and punishment against the accused, the panchayat members ordered her take Rs 50,000 to undergo an abortion. But she refused it,” Gupta added.

It was the panchayat of village Packola Palashmani in Kishanganj district that gave the order.

The 16-year-old victim is daughter of a migrant worker who works in Rajasthan to support the poor family of six. The victim’s mother works is a daily wage labourer in an agriculture field.

Gupta said an FIR has been lodged and a probe has begun. “We are trying to arrest the accused and take action against the panchayat member,” she said.

She said the victim was afraid to approach police after panchayat members threatened her.

The police official also said nearly half a dozen similar cases have been reported to her in last month.

“After I joined duty here, five girls, mostly from the Muslim community, have filed similar complaints of being raped and getting pregnant,” she said.

“I am stunned to know that several girls were raped but they failed to inform their parents. Such cases come to light only when they get pregnant few months later,” she said.

Kishanganj is a Muslim dominated district as the community makes up for around 70 per cent of the population. It is one of the most backward districts in the state with high poverty rate and low levels of literacy.

(IANS)

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