Contending that the BJP has weakened the anti-Congress atmosphere building up in the country by attempting to impose Narendra Modi on the NDA, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that Modi’s “burqa and puppy” remarks only vindicate the JD(U)’s stand that it has taken a right step by snapping its ties with the BJP.
Talking to newspersons after his weekly Janata Darbar at his official residence in Patna on Monday, Nitish Kumar asked, “What is a problem if women of a particular community wear burqas, either by their own choice or in respect of their tradition and even Hindu women cover their heads as a part of their tradition”.
The Chief Minister said that the language used by Narendra Modi in his public discourse during the last three-four days only vindicates the JD(U)’s stand that it was right in severing its ties with the BJP.
Making a blistering attack on Narendra Modi, he noted, “Our country has several religions and traditions and we should respect each otherRs s religious sentiments.”
He said that the usage of right language is important in the field of politics and one should keep this basic principle in mind while making an observation on any subject, adding that any wrong approach will not fetch benefits to anybody.
“I had caught signals from Narendra Modi well in advance and his grubby language only bared the truth,” he added while making an oblique reference to his “puppy” remark on the Gujarat riots and his “burqa” comment for criticism against the Congress.
Nitish Kumar said that the BJP also squandered away the opportunity to create a broader unity among the anti-Congress parties on issues of corruption and price rise, two major failures of the UPA Government.
The “Bharat Bandh” calls given by the NDA against failures of the UPA Government had received support from regional parties as well as left parties in the past but the BJP in a bid to reoccupy the power at the false notions kept projecting Narendra Modi, an exercise which was not acceptable to the JD(U). He said that the BJPRs s insistence on implementing its own agenda also aborted attempts of forging a broader unity among the non-Congress parties.
To a query on alliance with the Congress, Nitish Kumar said that no discussion is being held between JD(U) and Congress and one should not speculate on the issue unnecessarily.
On Ram JethmalaniRs s statement that he will get RJD Chief lalu Prasad to support Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar said that the statement should be taken seriously.
When Jethmalani who is also a lawyer of lalu is making such a comment, it gives clear indication that both BJP and RJD are in touch.
On Right to Food Bill, Nitish Kumar said that his Government supports the Bill in principle but found fault with the UPA GovernmentRs s approach to take the ordinance route on the Bill.
Favouring a debate on the Bill in the Parliament, he said that the State Government had also made some suggestions for certain amendments in the Bill but the opportunity was lost after the Government took the ordinance route for implementing it.
“I have already given necessary directions to Food and Civil Supplies Department, Rural Development Department and Urban Development Department for implementing the ordinance in the state within six months,” the Chief Minister informed.
On recent unlawful activities in the State, Nitish Kumar said that the Bagha police firing or the Bodh Gaya incident should not be construed as if law and order situation is deteriorating in the State.
“No trend of any slide in the law and order situation has been witnessed in the recent time,” he added.
He also exuded confidence that the NIA will probe the serial blasts in all details and will not spare any wrong doer, reiterating his demand for deployment of CISF jawans for intensifying security at the Mahabodhi temple.