Whoever said that casteism had ceased to be a factor in Indian politics and society! Bihar is a state where caste had in the past exercised a venomous influence. The horrendous caste killings in Bihar in the past decades have trailed off. But despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s social engineering, the poison is still there. Violence broke out in Patna and other places following the murder of Brahmeshwar Singh, chief of the Ranvir Sena. The Ranvir Sena has long been a dreaded menace, a most powerful though outlawed militia of the upper castes and landed gentry in Bihar for decades. It slaughtered dalits in the 1990s and enjoyed the patronage of politicians, especially during the jungle rule of Rabri Devi. Admittedly, the murder of a Ranvir Sena chief should also be condemned but it should be punished according to the rule of law.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has won plaudits for pulling Bihar out of the morass of social and economic backwardness. It is to be expected that he will take every step to prevent a relapse of caste violence in the state. Militias of caste groups must not be allowed to go berserk. Besides, the murder of Singh should not be an excuse for any pressure group to maul the state’s law and order machinery. Bihar should not be allowed to drift into jungle rule and lawlessness. Nitish Kumar has raised high hopes. But the prospects of heavy investment inflow generating high economic growth in the state will fade away if caste war makes it impossible for minds to be without fear.
