Nitish derides BJP poll manifesto, justifies decision to split

Deriding the BJP manifesto for bringing controversial issues like Ram Temple, Article 370 and Common Civil Code "into focus" again, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today justified JD(U)'s decision to part company with it.

"By bringing contentious issues like construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, abrogation of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and enactment of Uniform Civil Code which have been kept out of NDA agenda since 1998 have been brought back into focus for vote...our decision to part company with BJP stands vindicated," Kumar told reporters.

Kumar had been instrumental in JD(U) breaking off with BJP after 17 years of association in June last year over elevation of Narendra Modi. Trashing the BJP manifesto, the Bihar CM said it had no clarity about steps to check price rise and is silent over the vital question of whether it is in favour of purchasing natural gas at 4.20 per dollar or 8.40 dollar. The vision document of BJP, "which is in a hurry to come to power", has no space for issues concerning Bihar like the special category status, he said. "Despite all hue and cry made by the Bihar BJP leaders that their leader will provide special category status to Bihar after coming to power, it is completely silent on the subject," he said.