Nitish Kumar pulls no punches,BJP hints enough

Smarting,the BJP for the first time sought to confront the JD(U) over its barbs against the Gujarat CM,saying: “We reject all unfounded inferences against Shri Narendra Modi.”

A statement issued by the BJP after senior leaders met in the evening said: “The need of the hour is to defeat the non-performing and corrupt UPA… The BJP expects opposition parties and allies to keep their main focus on that… However,it is unfortunate if they concentrate their energies on our chief ministers.”

The statement is being seen as a signal to NDA partners to stop dictating terms to the BJP on who its PM candidate should be,and specifically to the JD(U) that Modi’s stock is running high and the party is not going to tolerate attacks on their “most popular leader”.

Practically ruling out going with Modi,the JD(U) resolution at the end of its two-day national executive here Sunday said any NDA PM candidate should have secular credentials. It also put the BJP on notice to name its candidate for the top post by the end of this year “as had been the tradition in the past”.

The future leader,according to the resolution,must be committed to keep the controversial issues of the Ayodhya temple,a common civil code and Article 370 on the backburner,adhere to an agenda for governance,support inclusive growth and pledge to develop backward states and regions. “The BJP is the largest party in the NDA,” the document said,insisting that,therefore,it had the responsibility to keep these parameters in mind.

Talking about the leadership issue,Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar invoked Atal Behari Vajpayee. “Only one who can carry with him all diverse sections of people can become the leader of the nation,” he said,adding,“Now,if there is an attempt to change the path,there is bound to be problems.”

In an apparent dig at the Gujarat CM over his media blitzkrieg and the talk of a Modi vs Rahul battle,he said,“The country does not run by mere projection… Some persons think they will create a wave and people will accept it… We have seen a lot of that kind of build-up (mahaul) during the last two years.”

Public mood kept changing and many a phenomenon has been built and destroyed in the recent past,he went on to imply.

Projecting Bihar’s development,Nitish also took a dig at the much-publicised Gujarat model. “Many people will accept it as development even when a developed state is growing. We have been backward. If we develop,it is to be discussed,” he said.

“Atalji always used to say,‘Follow your Rajdharma’,” Nitish added. Considering that it was in the context of the Gujarat 2002 riots that the term got currency,he again appeared to be targeting the Gujarat CM,saying one state could be “an aberration,but it would be very difficult if it is the whole country”.

Ruling himself out of the PM race,saying he had no such “illusions” as his party did not have the numbers,Nitish said: “We want to remain together (with the BJP)… When did we say that we want to part ways?… (But) what would we do if we remain unheard? Then we will take a step.”

He added that while nothing could be predicted in life and compromises were made in politics,“there are certain fundamental principles”. “Compromising with secularism to remain in power,no,we will never do it… We cannot compromise on our basic principles… We want the train to be on track,but if the train derails,we will decide (our course) according to the situation.”

In his speech,Sharad Yadav appeared to strike a more conciliatory note. Assuring party members that “the current difficulties” in the NDA will be sorted out,he advised loudmouths within the party “to speak a bit less”. “We have nothing to do with any particular person,” Yadav said. “This fight is only for principles… We should avoid taking names… There were many differences when Atalji and (L K) Advaniji were there,but they never said anything about us outside… Nor did we.”

Seeking to play down the war of words,BJP sources said they were forced to issue a counter to Nitish’s speech as there was a formal statement and political resolution by the JD(U). “If the JD(U) has the right to address its cadres and workers,so has the BJP,” a senior party official said.

However,perhaps in a sign of things to come,BJP cadres have begun poll preparations and organisational reachout in all constituencies in Bihar,including those that are assigned to JD(U). The programmes are similar to the campaign held in 1995,after which Vajpayee became PM.

Modi secular,says Bihar minister

PATNA: Reacting sharply to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s speech indirectly attacking the Gujarat CM,BJP minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday said that Narendra Modi did not need a certificate on secularism from anyone. “All leaders and workers of BJP are secular. Modi was,and is secular. It is the Congress that is fooling the Muslims,” said the animal husbandry and fisheries minister,adding that Gujarat’s Muslims were better off than those in other states. ENS