BJP stages protest against Nitish in Patna

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers staged a protest here on Saturday against senior Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, who is set to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister on Sunday.

The protestors also burnt Kumar's effigy and shouted slogans denouncing him.

Kunwar Vijay Paswan, a leader of BJP's scheduled caste front, said Nitish has humiliated the dalits of the entire state by ousting Jitan Ram Manjhi.

"A Chief Minister who was a Dalit icon, who had gained popularity among Dalits, such a leader was humiliated by Nitish Kumar and removed. Nitish has not only humiliated Jitan Ram Manjhi, but has also humiliated the Dalits of entire Bihar. The scheduled castes of the whole state will burn Nitish Kumar's effigies," Paswan said.

The protest follows the resignation of Jitan Ram Manjhi from the top post, ahead of the crucial trust vote in the state assembly. Manjhi had alleged that his legislators and ministers were given death threats ahead of the trust vote.

He also hit out at Nitish for remaining a silent spectator to the entire episode and accused him of trying to exercise 'remote control' of his government.

Nitish, who met Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi yesterday and staked his claim to form the next government in the state, will take oath as the Chief Minister on February 22. This will be his fourth stint as the Chief Minister.