CAA/NRC toll: Kishor, Varma expelled from JD-U; two killed in Bengal clash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi/Kolkata, Jan 29

Two persons were killed and one was injured in a clash over a protest against the CAA in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district today, while the Janata Dal (United) expelled vice-president Prashant Kishor and general secretary Pavan Varma from its primary membership and other positions for indiscipline and working against the party line on the amended citizenship law.

Accusing Kishor of using “insulting words” against party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tyagi said, “It is imperative that Kishor be removed from the party, so that he doesn’t stoop any lower.”

Seen as a mere formality after Nitish yesterday said the two were “free to leave” and join whichever party they wanted, the end to the public spat between Kumar and Varma and Kishor is a clear indication of the fact that the BJP’s Bihar ally is in no mood of walking away from the NDA in near future.

It also means the JD-U is in complete consonance with the BJP on the CAA and the National Population Register (NPR). Earlier, speculations were rife that Kumar might end alliance with the BJP ahead of Bihar poll due to political implications of issues related to CAA, NPR and NRC.

In Baharampore (West Bengal), a scuffle reportedly broke out between local TMC leaders and “Nagarik Mancha”, which was observing an anti-CAA shutdown. The residents’ forum was asked to withdraw the shutdown after which the situation turned violent.

Local TMC MP Abu Taher said Congress and CPM supporters indulged in violence. “I have requested the police to look into the incident ,” he said. Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty, however, demanded a judicial inquiry into it.