Nitish urges PM to withdraw DNA remarks

In a clear message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi that his DNA remark against him was not going to die down, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday reiterated that the remark was highly in poor taste and an insult to the people of Bihar while urging the PM to take back his words.In an open letter posted on his Twitter account, Nitish said Modi’s words have been taken as an insult by a large section of the people of the State and beyond. “Most of us also feel that coming from you, the comment is rather unbecoming of the office you hold,” he stated.

It is to be recalled that PM Modi during his Muzaffarpur rally on July 25 had stated that Nitish Kumar’s DNA was poor while referring to the cancellation of dinner for BJP National Executive members by the Bihar CM and later on breaking ties with the BJP.Nitish had promptly reacted saying he was a son of Bihar and it was a slur not only against him but the entire people of Bihar.

In his letter Nitish asserted, “I am a son of Bihar. My DNA is similar to that of the people of Bihar. Modiji, as you know, my father was a freedom fighter and my mother an ordinary housewife. I grew up in a humble household in rural Bihar. In my 40 years of public life, I have tried to work for the betterment of people following the ideals of Gandhi, lohia and JP. Most of us feel that these statements, beyond questioning my own descent, have disrespected the lineage of our people and have denigrated the great legacy of the State. This also gives credence to the feeling that perhaps you and your party hold a prejudice against the people of Bihar. I wonder how come the gravity of such statements repeatedly misses your alert conscience.”

This letter has come in public domain a few days ahead of PM’s second rally in Bihar as he is scheduled to address it at Gaya on August 9. With this, Nitish has also communicated that he is going to play the Bihari pride card in the same fashion Narendra Modi played when he was CM of Gujarat. It would be interesting to see how effective Nitish’s move would prove. The JD(U) is determined to use the DNA slur as an election issue to convince the people that the PM has questioned the DNA, or what they would call it `khoon’ (blood) and lineage of the people of Bihar.

The CM has urged the PM to consider taking back the ‘insulting’ words saying that this gesture of Modi would no doubt go a long way in assuaging the hurt sentiments of the people.What if the PM does not take back his words, which is most likelyIJ Nitish said he wanted a retraction. “If it does not happen, I will leave the judgment to the people,” he said in an indication that people would react and reply to the insult Modi heaped on them. Even though he said it is not an election issue for him, he asserted that it is a question of Bihari Asmita (pride).”