"Nitish Kumar doesn't need Sonia Gandhi's certificate; his work speaks"
Union Minister Lalan Singh defends Nitish Kumar against Sonia Gandhi's remarks, stating his 20 years of work in Bihar speaks for itself.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh launched a scathing defense of former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, dismissing recent criticisms leveled by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Singh asserted that the Janata Dal United (JDU) leader has nothing to prove to the Congress leadership, as his two decades of governance in Bihar serve as his ultimate validation.
Defending Nitish Kumar's Legacy
The Minister's remarks came in response to allegations that during a recent meeting of the INDIA bloc, Sonia Gandhi had referred to Nitish Kumar as a “traitor” and expressed satisfaction regarding his departure from the alliance. Singh, however, remained unfazed by the reported rhetoric.
"We do not wish to react to the remark Sonia Gandhi made about Nitish Kumar because Nitish Kumar does not need Sonia Gandhi's certificate," Singh told ANI. He emphasized that Kumar's political standing is built on tangible results rather than political endorsements.
"Nitish Kumar has served the people of Bihar for 20 years on the strength of his work and has transformed the picture of Bihar. Today, he is discussed not only across the entire country but also in the world..." the Minister added.
The Caste Census Controversy
The political friction also extended to the debate over a nationwide caste-based census. Singh claimed that while Nitish Kumar was briefly part of the INDIA bloc, he had actively pushed for the alliance to pass a proposal for such a census. However, Singh alleged that the move was blocked within the opposition ranks.
According to the Union Minister, when Kumar raised the issue, Sonia Gandhi reportedly declined the proposal despite insistence from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Singh contrasted this with the current administration, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already initiated and announced the exercise in the country.
INDIA Bloc's "Save Democracy" Offensive
The verbal spat follows a high-stakes, three-and-a-half-hour coordination meeting held by the INDIA bloc in New Delhi. The opposition alliance, which includes major parties like the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress, announced a massive nationwide campaign to protest what they term the erosion of democratic institutions.
Key highlights of the opposition's stance:
- Targeting the Election Commission: Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee, raised serious allegations regarding EVM tampering and "vote theft," specifically targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- Demands for Resignation: Mamata Banerjee went a step further by demanding the immediate resignations of both the Prime Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner.
- Nationwide Protests: Starting October 2, the alliance plans a week-long "Save Democracy" protest. Local cadres have been instructed to gather outside District Magistrate offices across the country to ensure their grievances reach every corner of India.
As the INDIA bloc prepares for its ground-level offensive, the tension between the ruling coalition and the opposition continues to escalate, centered on themes of institutional integrity and political loyalty.