Patna/ New Delhi: Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) national president Chirag Paswan met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, in a move that seeks to quell speculation about discord within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Paswan, who once famously referred to himself as the “Hanuman” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterated his unwavering support for the leader during an interview with the Press Trust of India (PTI) earlier in the day. Speaking in Patna, he declared, “My love for Narendra Modi is unshakeable. I am inseparable from him, as long as he is Prime Minister.”
These comments appear designed to douse the flames of recent rumours surrounding Paswan’s party, which has taken a critical stance on contentious issues such as lateral entry into the bureaucracy, the creamy layer and sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes, and reforms to the Waqf Board.
The timing of the meeting is particularly noteworthy, as it comes just days after Chirag’s estranged uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, also met with Shah. Chirag, however, sought to downplay the significance of his uncle’s actions, stating, “He [Paras] has lost all public support. He had been meeting various leaders before the Lok Sabha polls as well, but that effort proved fruitless.”
Addressing the stance of his party on the Waqf reforms, Chirag aligned himself with the government’s position, highlighting the example of the Waqf Bill being sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). The proposed legislation, which aims to introduce significant amendments to the existing Waqf Act, was recently referred to a 31-member JPC by the government.
Paswan also dismissed speculation about his party’s future in upcoming elections, particularly in states like Jharkhand. “The fact is, our party has an alliance with BJP in Bihar and at the Centre. So, we will abide by coalition dharma at the national level and in my home state. And although we have no strings attached in states like Jharkhand, it does not mean we are averse to a tie-up with BJP there. If the BJP and other NDA partners want us on board, we are game,” he said.
The 41-year-old actor-turned-politician also addressed the recent controversy surrounding Kangana Ranaut, a BJP MP and an “old friend” who co-starred with him in his only Bollywood film. Commenting on her contentious remarks about the farmers’ protests, Chirag said, “I think the matter should have been closed once the BJP made it clear that she had expressed a personal view which the party did not agree with.”
