Amit Shah cancels visit in Bihar town; BJP alleges 'sabotage'

Patna: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled his scheduled visit to Bihar's Sasaram on Sunday to attend the birth anniversary function of Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The trip was cancelled after communal tension in the area post Ram Navami clashes here, where prohibitory orders are still active, The Indian Express reported.

However, he will be addressing a meeting at Mawada in the state on Sunday.

The state BJP president Samrat Choudhary alleged that it was a sabotage attempt by the Bihar government. He said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is finding ways to keep Amit Shah from visiting the state. It is clear that Kumar is not able to control the state, he claimed, adding that the CM is not even able to control law and order in his hometown of Biharsharif in Nalanda, the state BJP head said.

He also said that the Union Minister of the state for Home Affairs had assessed the situation and offered deployment of Central forces, but the state did not respond. Since there are prohibition orders, they cannot hold the meeting in Sasaram, he said.

Another senior BJP leader said that Shah's visit to Sasaram has great political significance. After the elevation of Samrat Choudhary, a Kushwaha leader, to state BJP chief, Nitish Kumar is nervous that Choudhary would have the potential to split his core OBC Kurmi-Koeri votes, he claimed, justifying the 'sabotage' allegations.

But JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that the BJP is spreading lies and the local administration was ready for Shah's rally. BJP cancelled the trip because the party was not sure of getting a good crowd, he said.