BackWith Narendra Modi’s elevation, BJP on path of destruction: Nitish
A day after Narendra Modi was anointed as the BJP’s PM candidate, Nitish Kumar says India will never accept a ‘divisive’ figure
Premium(Hindustan Times)
Patna/New Delhi: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Saturday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was on the path of destruction, a day after Narendra Modi was anointed as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general election, and asserted that India will never accept a “divisive" figure.
As parties outside the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) took potshots at the BJP over Friday’s announcement, Union minister of state for home and Congress leader R.P.N. Singh also shared Kumar’s assessment, alleging that Modi is a divisive force and that he does not believe in the country’s ethos of secularism which is harmful to the society.
“Vinash Kale vipreet buddhi (taking wrong decisions when on path of destruction)," Kumar told reporters in Patna.
Kumar, who was instrumental in his party breaking up ties with the BJP over the issue of Modi’s possible elevation after staying in the NDA for 17 years, said the BJP was working against opposition unity. The country would never accept a “divisive" figure, he said.
“This was the right time to unite the opposition parties against the UPA government on the issue like price rise and corruption...but the BJP is working on some other agenda," he said.
Instead of adding new partners in the NDA, it lost a trusted friend like JD(U), Kumar added. He also claimed that JD(U)’s decision of severing ties with the BJP on 16 June has been vindicated.
Without naming veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani, who has isolated in the party on the issue of Modi’s elevation, Kumar said “there is no respect for elders in the BJP".
On jubilation in the BJP, the Bihar CM, whose aversion for Modi is no secret, said “they are going ecstatic within their own house (BJP) but there is no similar jubilation among common people". The BJP is trying to create an environment in favour of their leader but they would never succeed, he said.
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