DIVERGENT VIEWS WITHIN NDA

DIVERGENT VIEWS WITHIN NDA

5-JULY-ENG 16

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-------------------------------The alleged encounter that took place in Bhojpur, Bihar, on June 17 has sparked a new debate in state politics. Two distinct viewpoints have emerged within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regarding this matter. A look at the statements made by two prominent Dalit leaders and Union Ministers—Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi—reveals a situation where demands for justice are being countered by a stance of staunch support.

Union Minister and 'HAM' party patron Jitan Ram Manjhi has strongly defended the police regarding this encounter. He clarified that it is not necessary for all alliance leaders to hold the same opinion on every issue. Raising serious questions about the background of the deceased, Bharat Tiwari, Manjhi asked why cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Act had been registered against him if he was merely an ordinary citizen.

Supporting the police's actions, Jitan Ram Manjhi argued that the officers' objective was self-defense, not to kill. He noted that had the police intended to kill, the shots would have been aimed at the chest, whereas in this instance, the shots were fired below the waist. Defending the promotions granted to the officers, he stated that suspending them pending a judicial inquiry would not be fair, as no guilt has been proven yet. Furthermore, he spoke about maintaining law and order in the state and strengthening Samrat Chaudhary's leadership.

Meanwhile, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has termed the incident a premeditated killing. Chirag Paswan visited Bilauti village to meet the family of the victim, Bharat Tiwari; while wiping the family members' tears, he assured them of justice. Sharing in the family's grief, Chirag stated that the guardians of the law have no right to take the law into their own hands.

Chirag Paswan has indicated that he will speak to the Union Home Minister and Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary regarding this matter. The victim's family, having lost faith in the administration, is now looking entirely to Chirag Paswan. Chirag has assured the family that this sacrifice will not go in vain and that every possible effort will be made to ensure the guilty are punished.

It is worth noting that the alleged encounter case involving local resident Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village—under the Shahpur police station area of ​​Bhojpur district—has been making significant headlines. Former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is justifying the official action, citing police morale and the state's law and order situation. However, Manjhi is not explaining how the three bullets fired by the police below the waist after Bharat Tiwari's surrender turned into five bullets. Under what circumstances, when, and where were the additional two bullets fired? Currently, the state's attention is focused on the judicial inquiry report, which will determine the truth.