Close circuit television footage at a leading hospital in Patna revealed some men walking in gun in hand and leaving after shooting a convicted criminal on parole. This is the latest incident of violence in Bihar where elections are round the corner and is a reminder to the voters that enough is enough.
After hard-won gains, this state cannot afford any backsliding. The Nitish Kumar-government has a lot to answer for in an election year.
The incident of murder in the hospital has wider significance than new low in the law and order situation in Bihar.It is likely to be replaced and revisited in the poll campaign to come.
Time was such incidents were laid at the door of RJD in the bygibe years when it used to be the ruling dispensation. It is RJD’s turn now to play the aggrieved party.
And BJP-JD(U) government which is at thevreveving end. It is ironical that the present ruling combine once replaced the dispensation which was synonymous with “jungle Raj’.
And if memories can be refreshed, it was none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to Bihar chief minister as “Sushashan Babu’. The coinage says it all.
But the incident is much more than adding fuel to the political crossfire. It is a pointer to the possible return of the issue of law and order as a trumping concern once the campaign starts.
A deep disregard for quality of governance marked Laloo Prasad Yadav’s government. Howlers in its way of functioing and it’s glaring lapses were whitewashed as “samajik nyay’ or social justice.
When Nitish Kumar first came to power in 2005, there had been a long process of de-instituionalisation under Laloo Prasad. It was passed off as backward caste empowerment.
One of the first and foremost successes of Nitish Kumar lay in curbing lawlessness. All other reforms like reviving health centres, giving cycles to girl students lest they drop out, all became possible after the fundamental assurance of safety.
Now insecurities have returned on the law and order front. Neither BJP not JD(U) can absolve itself of its share of blame.
And much more than a election is at stake. It is time Nitish Kumar government stands fast as it cannot go back to the past.
