Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may be vehemently opposed to Narendra Modi’s national projection, but a decade ago as Railway Minister he had wished the same for his Gujarat counterpart.
“I hold out hope that Narendra Bhai will not remain confined to the boundaries of Gujarat for long. Nation will (ultimately) get his services,” Kumar had said in December 2003 while inaugurating a railway project in Adipur Kutch region of Gujarat.
BJP’s media cell released a copy of his speech wherein Kumar had showered praises on the Gujarat CM, particularly for the relief works carried out after the devastating earthquake in Kutch region.
“Efforts are made to differently present Gujarat and its Chief Minister outside the State. The works of the State Government are not publicised outside the State in a way it should be. Whatever has happened (riots) was a black spot. But to remember it and forget what all is happening here is also not correct,” Nitish had said then.
As then Railway Minister Nitish had “promised” all support of his department to Modi to develop ports in Gujarat. “Whatever be the proposal for port connectivity, we will readily accept it. We will like to assure this to Gujarat and especially its Chief Minister. That Gujarat is progressing is not a small achievement. I had an opportunity to visit the earthquake-hit area. The pace with which the reconstruction work is going on is commendable,” Nitish had said. He had also promised that Railway would not lag behind in joining the Vikas Yatra of Gujarat.
“You all have come here to listen to Narendra Modi. I will not take much time. I will conclude,” Kumar had said in a clear admission of the Gujarat CM’s popularity. The then Railway Minister had also hailed Gujarat’s giant leap in infrastructure creation sector and had claimed only when Gujarat will develop that the country will develop”.