BJP is a 'bimar' party: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Saturday said that BJP is a 'bimar' (ill) party with a communal mindset, the harshest criticism by the chief minister so far of his former ally.

"BJP is an ill (bimar) party and its thought is rotten (soch sadi hain)," said Nitish Kumar, targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party for creating a hue and cry after the Bihar Police gave a clean chit to state Minorities Welfare Minister Shahid Ali Khan over his alleged connection with two agents of the Indian Mujahideen or Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence.

Nitish Kumar said the BJP changes its colours when it comes across a Muslim face, whether it is a minister or a common Muslim. "BJP's communal mindset was reflected when it was reported that police gave a clean chit to Khan," he told mediapersons here. Nitish Kumar argued that BJP leaders, a few them in his cabinet till last year, must have known Khan well.

However, by demanding Khan's resignation and a probe by an agency from outside the state, the BJP leaders made it clear that for them a Muslim name made things different, Kumar said. "This issue again exposed BJP's anti-minorities face," he said. Police Friday night gave a clean chit to Khan."Police enquiry found it was not true. The minister has no connection with the two suspected IM or ISI agents," Additional Director General of Police Ravinder Kumar said after media reports started speculating on Khan's connection with terror suspects.