Bihar is facing a deep political crisis as the relations between ruling coalition partners JD(U) and Lalu Prasad-led RJD continue to sour. RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh was forced to resign as the state agriculture minister in October for speaking against chief minister and JD(U)’s tallest leader Nitish Kumar. Without naming Sudhakar, deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav had said earlier this month that if someone spoke against the Grand Alliance leader, he was supporting the BJP policies. In an interview to Kumar Shakti Shekhar, Sudhakar Singh again attacked Nitish Kumar and blamed him for the woes of the state’s farmers. Edited excerpts from the interview:
Why have you adopted an anti-Nitish Kumar stand?
I have not adopted any anti-Nitish Kumar stand. He supports commercialisation of agriculture in the country. In contrast, we are fighting against it because 80 per cent of our population is dependent on agriculture. In fact it was Nitish Kumar who had laid the foundation of the three farm laws as the Union agriculture minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government of the NDA in the year 2000. The draft basic structure of the three farm laws, which were withdrawn in 2021, was prepared by Nitish. In Bihar, there is no law. There is no system to look after agriculture. If Bihar does not have a law for mandis, Nitish is directly responsible for it.
There is a major scam regarding the use of fertilisers in Bihar. A subsidy loot in fertilisers is going on in the state. According to data, 100 kg of fertiliser per hectare was consumed in the state in 2005 against the national average of 95 kg per hectare. In 2022, the state consumed 245 kg of fertiliser per hectare against the national average of 135 kg. It is a dangerous indicator. It is against organic or natural farming. Excess consumption of fertilisers is destroying farming. As it is, Bihar has the fertile Ganga soil. It provides natural strength to soil. Water availability in the state is more than the other states. Abundant labour is also available. Despite these positive indicators, production of foodgrains is negative. Input cost has been increasing.
The mismatch is due to fudged statistics. Debate is being diverted and diluted. In reality, fertilisers are not reaching the farmers. There is a major rush for the purchase of fertilisers. Farmers are lathi-charged. Law and order problem is arising due to scarcity of fertilisers. Fertilisers are being smuggled to Bangladesh and Nepal. A packet of fertiliser costing Rs 266 is being sold for Rs 1500. What kind of rule is it, honourable CM? This is the reason behind my differences of opinion with the CM.
Do you not embarrass your own government and CM by speaking against them?
The Vidhan Sabha (assembly) is the people’s biggest platform. I have been raising these questions for the past 17 years. Should I change my questions? Questions should be asked of the ruling party. My questions are mentioned in RJD’s manifesto as well.
As an agriculture minister, why did you speak against a department which you were heading?
I spoke the truth. Why should anyone feel embarrassed? If you do, then it means you are accepting that there is no mandi in Bihar. A minister is not a show piece. She or he is a policy-maker. As a minister, I wanted to rectify the shortcomings of the agriculture department.
Your father Jagdanand Singh is the president of the Bihar unit of RJD which is a prominent coalition partner of the ruling Mahagathbandhan government. Do your remarks against Nitish Kumar put him in a dilemma?
My father is not facing any dharm-sankat or duvidha. His role is to run the party. My questions are as an MLA. An MLA shoulders the dual responsibility – towards the party and the people of the constituency. I am not speaking or doing anything against my party. Except for Nitish Kumar, there is not any crisis for anyone. His fight against the BJP is not about policies but it is a clash of personalities. For me, my country is above personalities.
Did Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav call you a BJP agent?
No. Tejashwi has warned those who are following the BJP policies. His warning was for all such people including Nitish Kumar. The power to make law is with the CM. Therefore, Tejashwi did not speak against me. Who is a BJP agent? It is Nitish Kumar, who is walking on the BJP’s policies. Nitish does not want to follow the Mahagathbandhan policies. Tejashwi knows that I cannot work as a BJP agent because I am advocating for multiple agencies to buy farmers’ produce and I am also in favour of mandis.
Do you think disciplinary action could be taken against you?
The party is supreme. The national president (Lalu Prasad) is all powerful. His decision will be acceptable to me.
Do you believe Tejashwi should replace Nitish Kumar as the Bihar CM?
I am of the firm belief that Tejashwi Yadav should be declared as CM. All should decide and make him the CM. The people of Bihar voted for him as CM. We are already running behind schedule. Samay beet chuka hai. Samay ke peechhey jaa rahey hain. Everyone knows who is responsible for this.
What do you have to say about the relationship between Nitish Kumar and the BJP?
As I told you earlier, Nitish Kumar’s clash is about personalities and not policies. His clash is with PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. Therefore, Nitish and BJP can unite again.
Do you think the Mahagathbandhan government will last till 2025?
Whosoever may be the leader but the government will last till 2025. It will complete the tenure but I cannot say in what form and who will be the leader by then. There is a political and leadership crisis now.
Is there a possibility of a Maharashtra happening in Bihar with the split of the JD(U)?
It is a rumour being spread by the BJP. The whole JD(U) may shift to the BJP but I do not think the party will split. If Sushil Kumar Modi had been the deputy CM, this day would not have been there for JD(U). Nitish is comfortable with BJP-led NDA even today. He is naturally suited for them.
