Nishant Kumar Launched ‘Sadbhav Yatra’ from Bettiah in West Champaran. Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui
By A Correspondent
Patna: A grand and historic interaction programme was organised at Bapu Auditorium in Bettiah as part of Nishant Kumar’s ‘Sadbhav Yatra’, which commenced from West Champaran. The event witnessed the presence of party office-bearers from the panchayat to district level, senior leaders, and a large number of workers from Bagaha and West Champaran.
Nishant Kumar attended as the chief guest, alongside State President Umesh Singh Kushwaha, JD(U) Legislature Party leader Shrawan Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Singh alias Gandhi Ji, MP Sunil Kumar, along with several MLAs, MLCs and other senior leaders. The programme was presided over by West Champaran district president Kanhaiya Kushwaha, while proceedings were conducted by Bagaha district president and former MLA Prabhat Ranjan.
Addressing the gathering, Nishant Kumar said that Mahatma Gandhi had launched the Satyagraha movement from the soil of Champaran, and carrying forward that legacy, former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also initiated his major political journeys and public outreach campaigns from this very land. Following the same tradition, he said, he too had chosen to begin his first political journey from this sacred place.
He urged party workers to convey the message at every organisational level that all are working under the guidance of Nitish Kumar, and that their resolve is to take his ideas and initiatives to the people while completing his unfinished tasks.
Nishant Kumar stated that after 2005, law and order was given top priority in Bihar, replacing an atmosphere once marked by fear, crime and kidnappings with peace and harmony. He emphasised that Nitish Kumar had never compromised on the principle of “Triple C” (crime, corruption and communalism) and affirmed that he too would adhere firmly to this policy.
He further noted that after coming to power in 2005, Nitish Kumar ensured a fair probe into the Bhagalpur riots, delivering justice and compensation to victims while punishing the guilty. Efforts were made to integrate all sections of society, including the Tharu community, into the mainstream of development. Landmark decisions such as prohibition, curbs on dowry and child marriage were implemented to lay a strong foundation for social reform.
Schemes like the Student Credit Card, bicycle and uniform initiatives were described as revolutionary in the field of education, significantly boosting enrolment and improving literacy rates.
In his concluding remarks, Nishant Kumar appealed to party workers to take the achievements of Nitish Kumar’s two decades in office to every household. He reiterated that JD(U) is rooted in socialist and secular ideology, and strengthening the organisation remains a collective responsibility. “A strong organisation leads to strong workers, which in turn strengthens the government, ultimately benefiting the people,” he said, adding that the goal is to bring the deprived, backward and weaker sections into the mainstream of development.
Umesh Singh Kushwaha remarked that although he had visited West Champaran earlier, he had never witnessed such enthusiasm and energy among party workers. He said this reflected a bright future for JD(U), which is poised to emerge as a dominant political force in the coming decades.
He added that when Nitish Kumar decided to move to the Rajya Sabha, a sense of uncertainty had spread across Bihar, but Nishant Kumar stepped forward to restore hope and energy among workers. Despite having the option to assume a formal post, Nishant chose to work directly among the people, he noted, adding that he remains committed to advancing the vision of “development with justice”.
Shrawan Kumar said Nishant Kumar had expressed a desire to directly engage with grassroots workers at the panchayat and booth levels, which led to the launch of the Sadbhav Yatra. He described Nishant’s decision to stay away from the lure of power and instead focus on public service and organisational strengthening as inspiring for the youth.
He affirmed that Nishant Kumar is committed to carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s ideals of good governance and development. Under Nitish Kumar’s leadership, he said, Bihar has ushered in a new era of growth, reaching every section and region. He urged workers to extend the same support and goodwill to Nishant Kumar as they have long given to Nitish Kumar.
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