Union minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday met Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists currently lodged in Bihar’s Nawada
jail on rioting charges, The New Indian Express reported.

Singh, who is known as an aggressive proponent of Hindutva politics, met Bajrang Dal’s district coordinator in Nawada Jitendra Pratap alias Jitu ji, VHP’s district secretary Kailash Vishwakarma, and other functionaries of the two organisations. Pratap and Vishwakarma were arrested four days ago for their alleged role in the communal clashes in the district last year.

“It is unfortunate the way Jitu Ji and Kailash ji have been framed,” ANI quoted Singh as saying. “When tension arose during Ram Navami in 2017, they restored peace in the area. They did the same when an idol of goddess Durga was vandalised in Akbarpur.”

The minister alleged accused the state government of arresting innocent people from the majority community. “Such action by the state government will only provoke the Hindu community,” Singh claimed. “Does the government think that communal harmony will prevail in the state only if the Hindus are suppressed and humiliated?”

On Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) national president Nitish Kumar had confirmed that his party’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party will continue, News18 reported.