Union food processing industries minister and key BJP ally Chirag Paswan on Sunday accused the Cockroach Janta Party of trying to “create anarchy” and backed the Centre’s security clampdown to “restore order”, reversing his own criticism of the sweeping restrictions ahead of the outfit’s protest just two days earlier.
The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, who had on Friday asserted that “nothing can stop” the country’s youth, on Sunday defended Delhi Police’s action, arguing that a crackdown was necessary to prevent a “greater disorder”.
“We consider protests to be legitimate when people put forward their views peacefully. But if anti-social elements use agitation as a pretext to pursue their own agenda, it becomes necessary to identify them. I believe that yesterday’s protest was meant to promote anarchy. In such a situation, the central government appropriately brought the situation under control,” Paswan, who had earlier famously described himself as Narendra Modi’s “Hanuman”, told reporters in
Patna.
Claiming that his party never supported the use of force, particularly against the youth, Paswan said the Delhi Police had to take a tough stance to “check the possibility of an even greater disorder”.
His defence of the crackdown marked a sharp departure from his remarks on Friday, when he questioned the cancellation of trains and closure of Metro stations ahead of the protest against chief election commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
“These are the youth of India — nothing can stop them. To those attempting to spread such misconceptions, I ask: how many trains can anyone really stop? How much connectivity can be blocked? How many roads can be jammed?” he had said.
Paswan’s volte-face came amid speculation that the BJP leadership may have pressured the NDA ally to fall
in line.
The LJP(RV) chief had similarly broken ranks with the ruling alliance last month by demanding that the CEC respond to questions surrounding the Election Commission. Paswan had then said it was the CEC’s responsibility to “present his stance
clearly”.
But after the poll panel issued a detailed clarification on September 26, following a meeting of the three election commissioners, Paswan joined other NDA allies in attacking the Opposition, arguing that the EC had addressed all the doubts.
On Sunday, he also targeted the Congress over its continuing demonstrations in Delhi, accusing the party of inconveniencing the public.
Paswan joined the BJP in accusing the Congress of selective criticism over allegations of sexual assault against JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, the party’s Lok Sabha member from Manipur.
“The alleged sexual offences that have come to light are deeply concerning. What is even more troubling is the selective criticism by the Congress,” he said.
JNU sacked Akoijam on Friday.