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NDA divided over protests against massacres

By Our Correspondent in Patna

Fissures seem to have developed among National Democratic Alliance constituents over the calling of an all-party meeting by Samata Party leader and Union Agriculture Minister Nitish Kumar to discuss the recent massacres. The partners are chalking separate programmes to protest the massacres, hoping to emerge as the main opposition party in the state.

"There was no need for Nitish Kumar to call a meeting," leader of the opposition in Bihar assembly, Sushil Kumar Modi, said. He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party would, nevertheless, participate in the meeting. Modi would be undertaking a 36-hour fast from June 24 to promote peace and harmony in the state.

However, it seems strange that neither Nitish Kumar nor Modi have visited Rajobigha and Miyanpur, where the recent massacres took place. In both places, the victims were mostly Yadavs.

The SP, the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP have already announced that they would boycott the all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Thursday.

The recent massacres appear to have given the NDA constituents an opportunity to decide which among them is the main opposition party in Bihar. The BJP is to organise rallies and meetings between June 26 to July 2 in all the blocks of the state to observe Sadbhavana Saptah.

EARLIER REPORT
Bihar Oppn to boycott all-party meeting

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