In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accused the BJP of fomenting communal clashes during the recent Ram Navami festival. He alleged that the riots were orchestrated by the BJP and were designed to polarise voters ahead of state elections next year. Mr Kumar, who leads a coalition government with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders over the violence. Clashes broke out when Hindu groups took out processions to celebrate the festival, and they turned violent when they passed through Muslim-dominated areas. Several people were injured, and shops and vehicles were burned. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar mentioned during his statement that when he was allied with the BJP, his government had to arrest Arijit Shashwat, the son of Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, for his alleged role in inciting communal riots in Bhagalpur in 2018 during another Ram Navami procession. The clashes resulted in several injuries and property damage in both Sasaram and Bihar Sharif. The situation has been brought under control, and the government is taking measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, referred to the term “agent” to address Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The AIMIM is a Muslim political party that has been gaining support in Bihar. Mr Kumar, who leads the Janata Dal (United) party and heads a coalition government with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders of orchestrating the violence to polarise voters ahead of state elections next year.
