CAB: Prashant Kishor digs in his heels, makes it clear he won't give up his stance

Isolated within his own party after opposing Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, JD(U) national vice-president Prashant Kishor on Thursday dug in his heels, asserting legislation could help government "systematically discriminate and even prosecute" people on basis of religion. In a fresh tweet that he ended tellingly with hashtag "tGivingUp", Kishor sought to dismiss contention that Bill aimed "to grant citizenship and t to take it from anyone".

RE: Prashant Kishor Ramps Up Opposition To CAB; Makes Dire Prediction About 'CAB + NRC Combo'

Prashant Kishor on Citizenship Amendment Bill

JD(U) heed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has sought to defend its support to Bill in both Houses of Parliament on basis of this assertion despite misgivings that it might versely affect Muslims.

"We are told that CAB is bill to grant citizenship and t to take it from anyone. But truth is, toger with NRC it could turn into a lethal combo," tweeted poll strategist-turned-politician.

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Kishor's anti-CAB comments h takers within party. JD(U) national general secretary Pavan K Varma, who h voiced disagreement on supporting CAB after party voted in favour of it in Lok Sabha, urging Kumar to "reconsider" stand in Rajya Sabha, has since t me any new comment on issue. Bihar minister Sanjay Jha, a close aide of CM, and state JD(U) president and Rajya Sabha MP Vashishth Narayan Singh h backed party stand and discarded dissents as "personal opinions." Since Monday, when Bill was tabled in Parliament by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kishor has been taking to twitter to express his disappointment with partys decision to back legislation holding that it was against partys commitment to secularism and Gandhian ideals.

RE: Prashant Kishor Opposes Nitish Kumar Support For CAB

On Wednesday,when crucial support of JD(U)'s six MPs helped BJP getting bill passed in Rajya Sabha, Kishor reminded party of its victory in 2015 assembly polls which it h fought in alliance with Lalu Prass RJD and Congress and Kumar h vowed to make a "Sangh-mukt Bharat". In an indirect reference to Kumars abrupt and controversial return to NDA in 2017 which he h left four years earlier, Kishor h remarked in a tweet:

"We must t forget that but for victory of 2015, party and its manrs wouldnt have been left with much to cut any deal with anyone".

RE: Prashant Kishor Takes Dig At Congress Leership's Propensity To Form Govts Without Effort

close to bone remark of Kishor whom Kumar h inducted into party last year and elevated to top post within a few weeks seemed to have touched a raw nerve with JD(U). It revived memories of its debacle in 2014 Lok Sabha polls which h prompted national president to step down as chief minister and make a comeback later after having cobbled up an alliance with Lalu Pras, ending years of rivalry. Moreover, re have been speculations that by his surprising decision to support Bill, Kumar has sought to return favour to Shah also BJP national president who recently silenced detractors of JD(U) chief within his own party by asserting that he would le NDA charge in assembly polls scheduled next year. Meanwhile, JD(U) spokesman and state minister Neeraj Kumar came out with a bristling riposte to Kishor, whom he did t mention by name.

"Nitish is secular in thought and deed and his persona is spotless like a mirror.Be under illusions, voting statistics speak volumes about his popularity. votes garnered by JD (U) rose to 89.02 lakh in Lok Sabha polls this year, up from 64.17 lakh tally of 2015. It was a jump of 39 per cent. Kindly update your kwledge," Neeraj Kumar tweeted.

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tably, outspoken former poll strategist h embarrassed his party ahe of Lok Sabha polls when he said in an interview that it would have been better h Nitish Kumar sought a fresh mandate after walking out of Grand Alliance. After extending his service to Jagan Mohan Reddy of YSR Congress in Andhra Presh, Kishor is w working for Mamata Banerjee's TMC, which is bitterly opposed to BJP, reby often causing strains in saffron partys relationship with JD(U).