'All parties must clear their stand', says Congress on Nitish-Modi handshake

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Congress Party on Sunday sounded a critical note over Bihar Chief Nitish Kumar shaking hands with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, saying that various political outfits ought to clarify on their stand with respect to each other.

"Whether or not they want to shake hands is a matter between Nitishji (Nitish Kumar) and Narendra Modiji, but it is true that all political parties must be clear about where they stand," said Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, spoke in defence of the meeting, saying both leaders are symbols of governance.

"Neither Nitish Kumar nor Narender Modi does politics after taking a certificate from Lalu Prasad Yadav. So, I think, he should get over this wrong impression that a person would take a certificate or permission from him to meet. As far as Nitish and Modi are concerned, both are symbols of governance," said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

"Without doubt, the development model that both leaders have created in their particular states is a source of inspiration for all states. So, meetings like this cannot be considered a matter of political debate, and neither should it be seen like that," he added.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had earlier on Sunday alleged that Kumar's handshake with Modi exposed his double standards and revealed his real face before the people of the country.

"Nitish Kumar is full of ego. He shook hands with Narender Modi during the meeting in Delhi, whereas here he used to say that he maintains distance from Modi. The whole world came to know on Saturday what he is doing (in true sense). Nitish Kumar was giggling in front of Narender Modi like a kid and he was teasing him," he told mediapersons in Patna.