JD(U) president Nitish Kumar hits back at his predecessor Sharad Yadav on Monday and questioned his socialist credentials for backing the dynasty in politics and corruption. He was reacting to Yadav’s statement in Delhi on Sunday that Nitish chose the path of power at the cost of party’s ideologies.
“Sharad Yadav shunned his own ideologies and sided with people (read RJD chief lalu Prasad and his family) when they were involved in corruption and doing politics of dynasty. Now he is following them. How can he claim to be socialist after deviating from the path of Jai Prakash Narain, Ram Manohar lohia and Karpoori ThakurIJ” asked Nitish tersely. But he added that Sharad was free to
chart out his own course of action.
In a sarcastic manner, Nitish said, “In the last 40 years Sharad did not get as much publicity as he got in just two months. Had he any respect for socialist ideologies he would not have shielded the politics of dynasty and corruption.”
Taking a swipe at the octogenarian leader who has claimed stake on the JD(U) and preparing to approach Election Commission of India (ECI) for third time, Nitish said, “The reality is before everybody. The ECI has rejected his claim twice.
We have already submitted our affidavits based on facts. Still if anybody wants to go to ECI he is free to do so.”
Nitish who is heading the JD(U)-BJP alliance Government said he took a decision (to snap ties with the Mahagathbandhan) in the larger interest of Bihar and asked media to conduct survey if his decision was right or wrong.
The CM however, refrained from offering comment on the assets of BJP president Amit Shah’s son Jai Shah saying he was not aware about the facts and allegations. But he rejected the criticism of former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha on the economy and said the demonetisation was a right decision and it would yield positive results.
On GST, he said he supported it when UPA was in power. There could be some issues in the new initiatives but the hue and cry was unnecessary, he added.
He claimed the Centre has positive attitude towards the development of Bihar and work on various projects was going on. Nitish said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would unveil various big projects during his visit on October 14 including six lane roads from Bakhtiyarpur to Mokamah.
Regarding the communal tension at several places during the festival season last week, the CM said it was really a sensitive time and attempts were made by unwanted elements for communal riots but they failed due to alertness of the administration and public mood.
Dussehra and Muharram were observed only a day apart and rumours had been spread before Bakrid festival that animal sacrifice would not be allowed. But they failed in their nefarious plans and everything passed off peacefully.