Bihar: ABVP, BJP demand JD-U’s Prashant Kishor’s arrest

Ruling BJP members on Tuesday, December 4, protested Bihar Police's action against ABVP activists, and demanded the arrest of JD-U's national Vice President Prashant Kishor for breaking the model code of conduct ahead of the student union poll in the Patna University.

Their demonstration came a day after an Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activist was arrested for pelting stones at Kishor's vehicle when he was coming out after a meeting with Patna University Vice Chancellor.

A group of students surrounded Kishor’s car and pelted stones when the JD(U) leader was leaving Patna University after meeting vice-chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh on Monday evening. The BJP has accused Kishor of trying to influence the December 5 elections in the university, while ABVP activists said his visit to the VC’s residence violated the model code of conduct.

Kishor, who was inducted into the JD(U) and has been tasked with rejuvenating the students’ wing of the party, clarified on Twitter that he suffered no injuries while sending a stern warning to ABVP.

“The news about my injury is false. I’m fine, thanks for the concern. ABVP, you need to do better than let few hooligans and antisocial elements become your face in Bihar. The possibility of losing the Patna University Students’ Union election will not get over by stoning my car,” Kishor said.

A dozen activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh students' wing ABVP, two Bharatiya Janata Party legislators Arun Sonja and Nitin Navin along with several party leaders staged the sit-in at Pirbahore police station on Tuesday.

They shouted slogans against the BJP-JD(U) government and demanded the arrest of Kishor, who is considered close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

They said Kishor has tried to influence the Patna University Student Union polls, scheduled for Wednesday, by holding a four-hour long meeting on Monday night.

However, JD(U) spokesman Sanjay Singh said Kishor was at the VC's residence when a meeting on setting up of a disaster management centre at the Patna Science College was underway.

"He was accompanying a relative who was taking part in the meeting. Those jittery over the growing support base of the JD(U) are coming up with baseless allegations," Singh said.

Trouble has been brewing between the alliance partners ever since some Chhatra JD(U) candidates were roughed up near the Patna Women's College last week, leading to a police raid on the ABVP office in the city, which was strongly condemned by BJP legislators staging the dharna in a joint statement issued on Sunday.

The arrested ABVP activists have been released on bail.

Nitin Navin, who leads a team of BJP Yuva Morcha on Monday night told Governor Lalji Tandon that Kishor has openly violated the model code of conduct.

Kishor's meeting with the vice chancellor was to aid the Chatra JD-U, student wing of the Janata Dal-United, they alleged.

Strongly reacting to the ABVP and BJP demands, Kishor wanted to know under what section of the Indian Penal Code his arrest was being demanded.

However, he said: "I will speak only after the student union polls."

RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav attacked Nitish Kumar in a series of tweets and took potshots at Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader, for keeping mum over the issue, even as MLAs of the party were staging a demonstration.

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, too, slammed the CM and his party, alleging blatant violation of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations for students' union elections.

“Nitish ji you have touched so low in interfering with the students’ body elections that eight MLAs and ministers have been releasing press statements against you for last two days. You made things worse in the elections by sending your friend and highly paid servant to the VC,” Yadav tweeted in Hindi.