Nitish flays Giriraj, BJP defends MoS

Only a day after Nitish Kumar declared that his party was wedded to NDA while playing down reports of strain in its ties with the BJP, the Bihar Chief Minister embarrassed over the Union Minister of State Giriraj Singh’s meeting with the riot accused in Nawada jail and accusing the administration of “discrimination” with Hindus, retaliated by criticising the BJP’s Nawada MP. But the BJP in no time returned the criticism and its leader Sambit Patra launched counter offensive while defending the MoS.

Nitish while talking to the media on Monday strongly disapproved of the action and utterances of Singh. “During the investigation such reaction on police action is not right. Such things only create social hatred,” he said in presence of Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on the sidelines of his Lok Samwad programme.

Modi did not react but BJP spokesman Sambit Patra who was on a visit here returned the criticism harshly while defending Singh. He said meeting party workers and supporters in jail was not a crime.

Giriraj Singh on Monday said he would meet the CM and Deputy CM to talk on the issue of implicating the “innocent” activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal who had no hand in rioting, rather they tried for social harmony during the disturbances in Nawada last year. 

In his criticism Nitish bracketed leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav with Giriraj Singh and accused them of using undignified language. He was particularly peeved over Yadav’s comments after he phoned to ailing RJD chief Lalu Prasad after his operation in Mumbai.

It was after the phone call that Yadav said Nitish remembered Lalu after four months and suspected that the CM was trying his entry in the Mahagathbandhan. Nitish said he phoned Lalu four times and talked through Manoj Jha and Bhola Yadav. “The language against me hurt the public sentiments. There can be political differences (with Lalu) but we have no personal enmity. But undignified talks were made after my phone call. If he is creating such an atmosphere in the society he will hit only himself,” said Nitish and added that he just laughed at the news reports that “no entry” comment had been made.

 Nitish reiterated his claim that there was no problem in the NDA and in the Government headed by him. “There is no question of compromising with communalism. Our Government is working smoothly. We act as per the law and neither implicate nor save anybody. If anybody creates tension action is taken,” he said.

Asked if he would recommend the Prime Minister to take action against his erring Minister, the CM replied, “It is not needed.” But he also added that sometimes people just for the sake of publicity made some move or give statements.

Nitish confirmed that he would meet BJP president Amit Shah and discuss the political issues with him. Shah is coming here on July 12.