Video showing Nitish seeking blessing of tantric is a new low in Bihar's politics

A video clip showing Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seeking benediction of an unknown tantric is in circulation only three days before the third phase of polls. This is an attempt to project Nitish as a leader who resorts to black magic to win a political battle. [caption id=“attachment_2470012” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Nitish Kumar. PTI[/caption] Nothing can be further from truth than this depiction. Few would know that Nitish’s real date of birth is not known. The date of birth shown in his certificates is not real as parents in the 1950s and 1960s used to be casual about it. Of course, Nitish Kumar knows his date of birth but he does not let others know it. Once he explained the reason for this. He said that the problem with letting others know real date of birth is that people start coming with soothsayers to predict your future. “I keep people guessing about my date of birth and future,” he once told his associates. But that does not mean that he is agnostic or atheist. There are many instances to prove that Nitish Kumar is a deeply spiritual person. He tends to visit temples and religious places and seeks divine blessings in his role as chief minister. But he never allows the public display of his faith and shuns ritualism to retain his neutral persona. The video clip assumes significance in view of the fact that those around the tantric are heard saying “Lalu Murdabad” (death to Lalu). Giriraj Singh, a minister in the Union cabinet, who released this video said that the clip exposed that Nitish Kumar’s scheming to oust Lalu from the scene through black magic. There is little doubt that Giriraj Singh’s attempt is seen as a cheap trick to create division and distrust between Lalu and Nitish. What is worrying is the level to which political parties would stoop to conquer. What Giriraj Singh initiated is not new. Just before 2009 elections, the then prime minister Manmohan Singh accused LK Advani of resorting to black magic and approaching tantrics to get to the seat of power. Given Manmohan Singh’s educational background and Advani’s public life, the allegation was prima facie ridiculous. But it dominated the discourse for some time. Similarly, the allegation of Nitish Kumar resorting to black magic would die its own death. But such a red-herring on the eve of polls is a serious matter of concern. Watch the video here: