BJP to harp on abduction in Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have returned to its original strategy of targeting the poor law and order and development in Bihar as its campaign focus, rather than taking on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on the Godhra issue or playing up the Hindutva card.

The reasoning, according to senior BJP office-bearers, is not to allow Prasad the advantage of a polarised minority vote, which, if left alone could well get divided between the RJD, the Congress and the Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Muslims account for around 14 per cent of the total voters in the state.

While the strategy had seemed to go awry when the UC Banerjee panel submitted its interim report on the Godhra incident, terming it an accident and not a mob action as claimed by the then ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, the spate of kidnappings in Bihar since have shifted focus back to law and order.

In fact, the BJP, which appeared on the backfoot after the Banerjee report, had decided to retaliate with a proposed campaign film on the Bhagalpur riots, which took place 16 years ago and in which not a single person has been convicted so far.

According to reports, the film has been shelved for the moment because of the change in the events in Bihar. "If the minority card is played again we might release the campaign film," said a BJP leader.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, projected as a Hindutva figure, may not campaign at all. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti, another Hindutva face, has already missed at least five appearances due to ill health. During her campaign, she is likely to concentrate on social justice, rather than Hindutva.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his first rally in Bhagalpur yesterday harped on the spate of kidnappings.

He was particularly critical of the RJD government for its performance on the law and order front and in his speech repeatedly referred to the names of Kislay, a Patna DPS student, Deepak Kumar and Ravikant, pupils of DAV schools at Bhagalpur and Biharsharif, respectively, who have been kidnapped recently and are still traceless.

Referring to the 15-year Lalu-Rabri regime, Vajpayee said, "this is no short span. Much could have changed for better during this period. The RJD government owes an explanation to the people for its failure to eradicate poverty and unemployment."

Senior BJP leaders are convinced that if they are successful in splitting the Muslim vote between the three UPA partners, Prasad will be on a sticky wicket.

"We are not saying the Muslim vote will come to us, but there will be many takers for it," said an office-bearer.

Meanwhile, the BJP today charged Prasad with providing protection to criminals involved in the recent kidnappings in order to justify his allegation of conspiracy against the Opposition.

"Abductions, goondaism and other crimes are not new to Bihar but Prasad and his government are providing protection to those behind the recent spurt in such incidents to justify his shameless allegation against the Opposition," BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in Patna.

Naqvi also asked the Congress and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to "clarify its stand" on the law and order situation in the state

Alleging there was a conspiracy behind the spurt in abduction cases, the RJD chief had yesterday accused the Opposition of "playing dirty politics by stage-managing such incidents to defame the RJD government."