Nitish’s journey with the NDA led BJP began in 2005 when they both came together to oust Lalu Prasad Yadav and free the state from misgovernance, misrule, incompetency and inefficiency. Earlier he served as Railway minister in the Vajpayee cabinet, later taking on the mettle to shape and secure the fate and future of the people of Bihar. Under Sushil Kumar Modi, he found an able partner for implementing and executing social welfare schemes for ameliorating the lives and livelihood of the destitute and vulnerable. That also explained the ascendancy of Nitish Kumar to the Chief Ministership not once or twice but thrice.
As for his unfounded alliance with Lalu’s RJD, it was premised on safeguarding his political objectives and interests as Narendra Modi was seen as a competitor to the former’s clout and dominance in the state. I remember how Nitish reacted to Narendra Modi’s DNA barb by playing a card stoking the passions and pride of the state’s people as Modi’s statement was taken as humiliating for the scores of the state people vastly spread in different states across the country.
But some of the policy decisions of the Nitish government have come for questioning like his alliance partners who believe in passing the bucks commenting on the credentials of Lalu Yadav or sometimes on Ashok Gehlot running and managing the affairs of Rajasthan.
Sushil Modi, one of the loud motor mouths and second in command of the hierarchy in Nitish’s cabinet, has been taking the lead whenever it comes to maintaining and managing the news and headlines, recently for blaming the tenure of Lalu Prasad Yadav for Bihar’s decline and deplorability in infrastructure, investment and innovations affecting each and every segment of the population.
But if we were to ask where was their alliance government, then how will he respond? I want to ask Modi junior about their strategy and response to the spread of Covid-19 in the state? Considering the prevalent rise of the virus and lack of any coping mechanism, how are they planning to contain and combat the virus infection when almost all the healthcare facility centres and hospitals are said to be running short of essential resources and manpower required to handle such a pressing and grim situation?
At Patna Medical College Hospital, the situation has become worrisome due to the lack of availability of medical supplies and facilities in the absence of proper testing and isolation of the patients resulting in the loss of the precious human lives. In many parts of the state, the lockdown has been put in place but without any avail as without a proper approach and action, I don’t think any significant outcome can ever be achieved. It requires planning, teamwork, coordination, collaboration and cooperation among different agencies and actors.
This has so far been unachievable as every year, millions of people lose their lives in the floods; evident in the monumental mismanagement by the apparatus and agencies of the government. They woke up to help at the last minute when Chamki fever started spreading in several pockets of North Bihar last year. It was the individuals and members of the civil society groups who came forward for the rescue of the affected children.
The point is, why has our state government and administration become so inept, lax, irresponsible in handling and dealing with the gravity of the situation? Why it is that the arithmetic of their alliance electorally matters more to them in a crisis? Also, they might not want to postpone or extend the assembly elections scheduled for later this year giving any thought to the suggestions and advice of the opposition leaders, leave aside being sincere on reaching out to the fulfilment of people’s objectives and aspirations.
Otherwise, Mr Sushil Modi would have refrained from speaking his mind on the conduct of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with the governor Shri Kalraj Mishra for proving majority at the floor of Rajasthan assembly or else Mr Gehlot can dial Mr Sushil Modi if need be.
I would like to only say that for Mr Sushil Modi, it will be good if he could perform and present in his capacity of a Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar towards the flood and corona affected victims in his state by ensuring the availability of supplies and resources in whichever he could along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Direct your authorities and agencies to take stock of the preparations. At least, please stop playing Sachin Pilot by bringing in Gehlot in your habitual political commentaries, Mr Modi!