Union Minister Amit Shah, on November 5, launched a scathing attack on the government of Bihar’s Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, and accused the recent caste survey of intentionally inflating the reported Muslim and Yadav populations for what he termed ‘appeasement politics.’ Speaking at a rally in Muzaffarpur, Shah noted that the decision to conduct this survey was initiated during the period when Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
According to Shah, the deliberate exaggeration of the Muslim and Yadav population figures in the Bihar caste survey was an evident ploy for appeasement politics. Furthermore, he added that the BJP’s perspective revolved around ‘JAM,’ representing Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhaar identification, and mobile technology. Conversely, he stated that the Bihar government’s approach to ‘JAM’ was centered on ‘Jativad’ (caste politics), ‘Parivarvad’ (dynastic politics), ‘Apradh’ (crime), and the appeasement of minority communities.
Shah accused the alliance partners of branding themselves as advocates for backward classes but suggested that their sole agenda was opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It’s worth mentioning that in 2022, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) severed ties with the BJP and joined the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which includes Congress, RJD, and Left parties.
To counter Amit Shah’s allegations, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav countered that a nationwide caste census should be conducted if there are concerns regarding the accuracy of the Bihar caste survey. Amit Shah’s rally in Muzaffarpur also witnessed Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh comparing the political acumen of Amit Shah to India’s first Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Amit Shah confidently predicted that the BJP would secure victory in all 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
While the political debate continues, the authenticity of the Bihar caste survey is likely to remain a subject of controversy.
