Mind your language: Cong tells RJD

The Congress party in Bihar has taken umbrage at the offending language used by the RJD against its alliance partner. The grand old party has warned Lalu’s outfit that it should “mind its language” and show “mutual trust and respect” if it was interested in taking the BJP-led alliance head-on in Bihar.

The first sign of cracks within the Grand Alliance (GA) appeared when Congress continued to make consistent efforts to wean away Nitish Kumar from the NDA fold and make him join the Mahagatbandhan (as GA is commonly known here), despite Tejashwi Yadav showing the red flag.

“Tejashwi Yadav is our leader in the Grand Alliance. Since he is also our Chief Ministerial candidate for 2020, only he is authorised to take a call on inducting new allies,” said RJD vice-president Shivanand Tiwary here on Sunday.

The former Rajya Sabha member termed Congress leaders in Bihar as ‘aira gaira’ (not worth talking). “There is only one leader in Congress – Rahul Gandhi. Others in the Bihar Congress are ‘aira gaira’ (a derogatory term which means ‘of no significance’),” said the veteran Socialist who is miffed at the Congress’ consistent efforts to woo Nitish.

Taken aback over Tiwary’s uncharitable remarks, Bihar Congress president Kaukab Quadri cautioned RJD to mind its language. “Exercise restraint, choose your words carefully. Only then we can work together,” Kaukab told the RJD here on Sunday.

The war of words between the decade-old alliance partners began on Friday evening when senior leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary Shakeel Ahmad Khan said Tejashwi should not have said that doors for Nitish have been closed. “If doors can be opened for former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi or Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, why it should be closed for a leader like Nitish,” Shakeel, who is also a senior Congress legislator in Bihar, said.

“Rahul Gandhi wants to bring all those, who are inimical to BJP, under one roof. The Congress is, therefore, making efforts to bring Nitish too under its umbrella. If he leaves the BJP and joins GA, it will strengthen us,” the senior Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, the JD (U) has supported Congress on the issue of offending language used by the RJD. “It’s very inappropriate on part of the RJD to use such foul language against one of its trusted alliance partner,” said JD (U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar.