One of the vital traits of Indian politics is hypocrisy. This is more true of those who claim themselves to be ‘secular' than others. 

‘Secular' Mr. V. P. Singh had no qualms of conscience to accept the support of ‘communal' BJP because without it he could not realise his dream to be the prime minister of India. ‘Secular' CPM too shed her trait of political ‘untouchability' and did not feel embarrassed to be seen rubbing shoulders with BJP on the treasury benches with ‘communal' BJP in supporting Mr. Singh because for them, at that time, keeping Congress away from power was more pious an act than ideological commitment to ‘secularism'. Like the change of season, priorities of ‘secular' parties keep on changing; at times Congress is enemy No. 1 and at others it is the BJP. 

The same remains true of Mr. V. P. Singh's one-time supporter and protégé Mr. Nitish Kumar who could never even dream of becoming Bihar chief minister without the support of BJP of which the Gujarat chief minister Mr. Narinder Modi is an important icon. His allergy towards Modi is dictated not by ideology but motivated solely by political and electoral considerations. When Gujarat riots took place in 2002 Mr. Nitish Kumar did neither quit BJP-led NDA nor did the gaddi of a Union Minister under Mr. A. B. Vajpayee.

Smiles in Ludhiana, frowns in Patna 

During last year's election campaign for Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Nitish Kumar was all smiles holding the hand of his Gujarat counterpart, Mr. Narendra Modi, at an NDA rally at Ludhiana in Punjab. But when a display advertisement on the eve of BJP national executive in his State carried the same photograph depicting great bonhomie between Mr. Nitish and Mr. Modi it became such a ‘heinous' crime that Mr. Nitish Kumar forgot the Indian tradition to welcome even one's enemy if he happened to visit one's home. In a huff - and perhaps to humiliate his guests to please a certain section of society, he cancelled the dinner he was hosting for the BJP leaders. He ordered raids on the advertising agency which had issued the advertisement. Under what law of the law was it a crime?

If shaking hands and displaying support and solidarity with Mr. Modi was a crime, it had been committed by Mr. Nitish Kumar last year at Ludhiana. Then why punish Mr. Modi or those who released the photographs?

Distinction between govt & party

When power gets into the head of a politician, for him the distinction between a government a political party and himself vanishes and for him all the three become one and the same thing. Mr. Nitish Kumar forgot that he was hosting the State dinner for his guests from other States and political outfits at public expense not as a JD(U) leader but as a chief minister who represents every section of society whether it supports him or opposes him. Even if a person becomes a chief minister, he continues to remain a human being and cannot forsake the human values of gentlemanly behaviour, niceties and courtesies. No chief minister can be allowed to play politics at public expense. But Mr. Nitish Kumar did. 

Whether the controversy that erupted during that period has died down or lingers on is hardly material. But the fact remains that in the context of events that took place during the meeting of the BJP's national executive meeting in the State capital of Bihar, it is the State's chief minister Mr. Nitish Kumar whose image and standing got a severe drubbing.