BJP and its allies have came down heavily on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw his DNA comment made during a public rally at Muzaffarpur last month.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain termed Mr. Kumar’s letter to Prime Minister as a diversionary tactic from the real issues of Bihar. He said people are interested to know about the performance of JD(U) and RJD during their 25 year-rule but they are running away. Mr Hussain said Prime Minister had talked about the political DNA of Nitish Kumar asking him why he had ditched former Union Minister George Fernandes, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and even BJP. He said Mr. Modi’s comment was not meant for a particular caste and Bihar as a whole. The BJP spokesperson alleged that Nitish Kumar is trying to make it an issue for his caste politics.
Union Minister and LJP Chief Ramvilas Paswan described Mr Kumar’s letter as an election gimmick. Talking to reporters outside Parliament, Mr. Paswan questioned whether inviting someone over a dinner and cancelling it at the same time was a reflection of DNA of Bihar. He was referring to 2010 incident when Bihar Chief Minister had cancelled a dinner for BJP leaders including the then Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Modi. He said there is no question of Prime Minister’s apology instead Mr. Kumar should do so.
Another Union Minister and RLSP Chief Upendra Kushwaha said Mr. Modi had not said anything wrong. He told reporters that it is the habit of Bihar Chief Minister to ditch people. He alleged that Mr. Kumar is trying to do caste politics in the state by raising such issues. During a rally in Muzffarpur last month, Prime Minister said that Nitish Kumar had not only disrespected him but also a Mahadalit like Jitan Ram Manjhi. Mr Modi said that there seems to be some problem in his DNA because the DNA of democracy gives respect even to political rivals.