JD-U alleges interference by BJP govt in states

Accusing the Modi government of interfering in states ruled by non-BJP parties by creating "artificial crisis" there, the Janata Dal-United on Monday appealed to regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress, the Biju Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party to "join hands" to counter the "dirty designs".

Reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his "cooperative federalism" pitch in Parliament, JD-U general secretary K C Tyagi said that on the contrary in last few days it looks the "new government has come up with a new programme of opposition-mukt (free) Bharat".

He alleged that since the Bharatiya Janata Party government has taken over, there is "regular interference" in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. "This kind of attitude is completely against the federal tructure," Tyagi said, alleging that the newly-elected government is following the footsteps of the Congress government in the past when it used to "create artificial crisis in the state to dismiss the government" elected by people and then push for elections after imposing President's Rule.

"If this kind of attitude does not stop here, then we will appeal to all the regional parties to join hands and develop an understanding to oppose these dirty designs of the BJP government at the Centre," Tyagi said.

While JD-U is in power in Bihar, the Trinamool Congress, the Samjawadi Party and the BJD rule in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha respectively. Ever since it’s crushing defeat in Lok Sabha polls in Bihar, the JD-U had been trying to bring all regional parties together on various issues.

The JD-U leader referred to criticism by ministers of state governments on the sensitive issues like law and order. “Same is the story in Bihar as well," said the JD-U member of Parliament, who party is involved in frequent clashes with the BJP after snapping its 17-year-old ties with it in June last year.

Tyagi alleged that when BJP failed to win over the TMC for "political gain in Rajya Sabha... these kind of interference started happening in the state to put pressure on the government."

"This raises doubt on the prime minister's statement in the House," he said. The attack by JD-U on the BJP the issue of federalism comes at a time when it has declared that days of anti-Congressism are over for it.

There have been reports about attempts by the non-National Democratic Alliance parties to cobble up a loose Opposition grouping in Parliament to take on the BJP government.