Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s move of returning the flood relief money led to sharp criticism from some BJP leaders, including Patna Sahib MP Shatrughan Sinha, who charged Bihar chief minister of showing “arrogance”. The RJD and the LJP also criticised Bihar chief minister.
In the political circles, the move is seen as Mr Kumar’s attempt to woo the Muslim electorate in poll-bound Bihar.
Though both the BJP and the JD(U) maintained that the incident would not effect the “time-tested” alliance, sources said a majority section within the BJP is very upset over the issue.
BJP chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said there could be no politics over relief funds and the funds were given in a spirit of solidarity and empathy with the flood victims. But sources said even the party’s Bihar unit had strongly reacted to the issue and wants the top brass to take up the matter with the JD(U).
The party’s Bihar unit chief, Dr C.P. Thakur, is also expected to meet the BJP top brass on this issue.
“First he (Nitish Kumar) created an issue out of these ads during our national executive and now he has returned the relief fund. He just wanted to prove it to his political opponents that he accepted their challenge of returning the money and also maintain the so-called secular tag,” said a senior party functionary.
Senior BJP leader and Bihar minister Giriraj Singh said Mr Kumar’s decision was “uncultured”. “The return of the funds was against constitutional prestige. It reflects an uncultured decision,” he said.
But despite the spat between Mr Kumar and Mr Modi, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav asserted that the party’s alliance with the BJP in Bihar would continue.
“The ties between the two parties are old and they will continue. There is no question of any break-up,” Mr Yadav said.
However, taking a dig at Bihar chief minister, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav said the decision to return the relief money was “nothing but an absurdity”. He also wanted to know from the chief minister as to where had he parked the money. “Where have you kept the money and why did you not spend the amount received in 2008?”
LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan also ridiculed Mr Kumar and accused him of enacting a “drama” by returning the money. “The act of returning money is just a drama and an attempt to woo Muslim voters,” Mr Paswan said.
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Modi govt: Move very unfortunate
Age Correspondent
Ahmedabad
June 19: The Narendra Modi government on Saturday termed as “unfortunate” the move by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to return Rs 5 crores given by Gujarat for the victims of Kosi floods. “The decision is unfortunate,” Gujarat health minister Jaynarayan Vyas told reporters.
The flood relief assistance was given to Bihar by the Gujarat government as a token of brotherly affection, Mr Vyas said.