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The Rediff Interview/Raghuvansh Prasad Singh

'Murders occur in every state. Can you say there is breakdown of the law and order machinery in these states?'

The 'Wild East' of India, Bihar, is in the news once again. The state would not be itself if periodic violence did not engulf it every so often. And, true to style, Bihar has grabbed national attention once again with the brutal murders of Brij Bihari Prasad and Ajit Sarkar on two consecutive days, prompting state Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari to claim that the situation was extremely grim. Speculation is rife now that President's rule in the state is in the offing.

However, in an interview with Tara Shankar Sahay, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Union minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh keeps parroting his party line that the Opposition parties in Bihar are ganging up to dislodge the Rabri Devi government.

Has your party prepared any plan if the state governor dismissed the Rabri Devi government? The murders of Brij Bihari Prasad and Ajit Sarkar certainly indicate the breakdown of law and order in Bihar.

Dekhiye, aapka sawal aapatijanak hai (look, your question is objectionable). There is no breakdown in the law and order situation. Murders occur in every state. Can you say that there is breakdown of the law and order machinery in these states? Our chief minister has already instructed policemen to bring the culprits to book within a fortnight. But the way the Opposition parties in Bihar are trying to orchestrate the murders to their advantage proves that there is a deep-rooted conspiracy against the Rabri Devi government.

But aren't you merely parroting Laloo Prasad Yadav's statement on this issue?

What do you mean? Lalooji knows the ground-realities in Bihar, he is the best qualified person to do so. He was chief minister for two terms and now his wife is the chief minister. If you are a resident Bihari, you will be convinced that what Lalooji is saying true. The Opposition in Bihar is jealous and resentful that we are in power so it is going to any extent to dislodge a democratically-elected government.

Why do you think the Opposition parties at the Centre have supported your party's stand on the Bihar situation?

Because it is crystal-clear that the BJP and the Samata Party, along with the Bihar unit of the Janata Dal are conspiring to topple the RJD government. If these parties succeed, I am sorry to say that it would be a sad day for India's constitutional history. Yeh samvidhan ka tauheen karna hoga (This would be insulting the Constitution).

Do you deny that apart from numerous murders that are committed in Bihar every week, there are many highway robberies all over the state every day but that few are reported?

I told you, crimes are committed in all states. But what you are saying needs solid proof. If you furnish such proof, I will forward it to the Bihar chief minister.

After the BJP-led government assumed power in New Delhi, is your party apprehensive that the way is being paved for the dismissal of the RJD government in Bihar?

Frankly, no. Ours is a democratically-elected government and the people of Bihar will not tolerate any devious designs against it. Much has been said about the change of governor in Bihar after the Vajpayee government took over at the Centre but as far as we are concerned, we are there in Bihar because of the people's mandate, which is to be respected by one and all.

The Bihar governor has said that the situation in the state is extremely grim. Don't you think that considering this statement, President's rule is likely to be imposed there?

Please don't try to put words in my mouth. I have said what I have to say on the matter.

But you are only ignoring the writing on the wall. Are you convinced that this will help your government in Bihar?

If you are trying to provoke me. I am sorry to disappoint you. I think I have made my views amply clear on your questions.

Let us suppose for a moment, for argument's sake, that the Bihar governor dismisses the Rabri Devi government. What will your party do?

This is a serious issue and I am not going to suppose on anything, even for argument's sake. The Rabri Devi government is there because the people gave her their mandate. That is what is important, supposition is not.

The Rediff Interviews