Sangh Parivar’s proposed aggressive “Hanuman Shakti Jagran” campaign, has hit the JD(U) roadblock in Bihar. JD(U) top brass including its chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, it is learnt, has cautioned the RSS and the BJP, that this campaign should be kept out of Bihar till the Assembly polls are over. But a
defiant VHP, which had first given the call for such a campaign, has challenged the JD(U) to stop its cadre from launching this nation-wide campaign in Bihar on August 16. Sources said the issue is likely to become another bone of contention between BJP and JD(U). Both parties only recently arrived at a truce sorted on the controversial issue of whether Gujarat chief minister and Hindutva icon Narendra Modi would campaign in the state or not. Assembly polls in Bihar are scheduled in October-November this year.
“Does the JD(U) rule this nation or they own Bihar. Bihar chief minister wants people to take his permission before reading Hanuman Chalisa or not to perform religious functions till elections in the state are over,” asked joint-secretary, VHP, Prakash Sharma. He claimed the campaign would be launched from Bihar also on the scheduled date whether “JD(U) likes it or not.” When asked what if BJP asks VHP to reschedule the date in Bihar or asks it to keep a low key affair in the state, Mr Sharma replied “the campaign is the call of saints and seers and it would not be altered even if BJP oppose it.” But the JD(U), sources said, has categorically told the RSS and the BJP that it will not allow the campaign in poll bound Bihar as it fears it will “alienate” the Muslim vote.