Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday described as “non sense” the Prime Minister’s allegation that ‘grand alliance’ was plotting to take away 5 per cent share in reservations for “a particular community”, saying it was the last-ditch effort to polarise votes on communal lines.
Kumar also invited Modi for an open debate with him on development. “Since NDA has not declared anybody as its leader in Bihar and contesting the poll in the name of PM, I am ready to have a one-on-one debate with him on development... let’s argue about Bihar model of development based on the principle of growth with justice with that of Gujarat model where maximum number of women are suffering from malnourishment and anaemia,” Kumar said.
On reservation issue, Kumar said he was following the apex court’s ruling. “Reservation has been defined clearly by the Supreme Court which we are following earnestly... There is no fact in the PM’s allegation of us plotting to take away 5 per cent reservation in SC, ST and OBC and give it to a particular community,” Kumar told reporters in a strong riposte to the PM’s accusation.
“Earlier, attempts in some States at giving reservation on the basis of religion were not allowed by the courts,” the JD(U) leader said. Kumar attributed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “wild” allegation as part of the strategy to win some votes on communal lines to be in the race in the Bihar elections which, he claimed, the NDA has already lost.
Kumar addressed a press conference at JD(U) State headquarters to give a point-by-point rebuttal of PM’s accusation against him during rallies on Sunday and Monday.
He also trashed Modi’s attack against him over meeting a ‘tantrik’ (occultist), promise made by him in regard to electricity and also PM’s flouting his Extremely Backward Caste (EBC) root.