Fresh challenge for BJP after JD(U)'s Prashant Kishor says no CAA-NRC in NDA-ruled Bihar

Prashant Kishor, vice president of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), posed a fresh challenge to the BJP after tweeting that there would be no implementation of the citizenship law in the state. He also had a special mention of thanks for Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra. "I join my voice with all to thank #Congress leadership for their formal and unequivocal rejection of #CAA_NRC. Both @rahulgandhi & @priyankagandhi deserves special thanks for their efforts on this count.  Also would like to reassure to all—No CAA-NRC in Bihar." 

Already, several opposition states including Kerala and West Bengal have said they would not implement CAA or NRC (including NPR) in their states. 

JD(U), the second largest constituent of the NDA with 16 Lok Sabha members after the exit of Shiv Sena, joined hands with the saffron party again in mid-2017 after forming a government with the RJD and the Congress in the state in 2015. Rumbling was witnessed between the NDA partners recently following a comment by Kishor, who had pitched for greater number of seats for his party in the upcoming assembly polls in the state. After a brief word duel between BJP's Sushil Modi and Kishor, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had come with a terse comment "Sab theek hai" (all is well).

The BJP was rankled by the commendation of the opposition party by the former election strategist. The saffron party came out with a statement criticising "over-intelligent and super knowledgeable people" for their propaganda on NRC and asserted that the CAA was passed in Parliament with JD(U)'s support and "it will be implemented in all concerned states, including Bihar".

Kishor's recent tirades against his party for supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and his vociferous opposition to NPR and NRC had raised the hackles of the BJP. Nitish Kumar, after his party voted in favour of CAA in Parliament, has been curiously quiet on the topic. 

The saffron party's Bihar unit spokesperson Nikhil Anand came out with a statement in response, dripping with sarcasm but without mentioning Kishor by name. "Some over-intelligent and super knowledgeable people are creating propaganda on NRC. But the fact is that there is no initiative by the central government on the issue. We thank the PM, the HM for bringing such much-needed legislation of CAA.

"We appreciate the support of our NDA allies including CM Nitish Kumar in passing the Bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The CAA will be implemented in all the concerned states including Bihar and there is no question on this matter. Bihar government has already notified start of the NPR in May 2020," Anand said.

The BJP spokesperson said that those opposing CAA must know that India is not like the United States of America which has dual citizenship. "The right to enact legislation related to census and citizenship comes within the ambit of Union government only and every state has to follow the law created by Parliament on these issues.

"Do these people want the state governments to take independent decisions on issues related to citizenship and Census which is the sole jurisdiction of the union government and Parliament as per the Constitution of India?" he said.

Anand said such thought is a disrespect to the federal structure and Constitution of India. 

-Inputs from PTI