CP Thakur defends Nitish Kumar in medicine scam

BJP leader Sushil Modi has demanded for a CBI inquiry in the multi-crore medicine scam

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CPThakur has defended former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the medicine scam, saying that it was wrong to point fingers at the integrity and honesty of the JD-U leader.

"We have earlier worked with Nitish Kumar. We have been together. First of all why will Nitish Kumar steal and for whom?.....why will he steal...." Thakur told ANI here on Sunday.

Reacting on the ongoing 'letter war' between Nitish Kumar and his erstwhile deputy over the scam, the senior BJP leader said,"A neutral body should hold the inquiry and this war of words should stop. Whether it is Intelligence Bureau (IB), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),.. judicial system, if any scam happened in medicines and who is involved will come clear... Unless enquiry happens how can you point finger at someone," he added.

When asked about Nitish Kumar's image, the senior BJP leader further added,"How can I tell about someone's image whether it is good or not. But as long as he was with us, we believed that his image his clear. Someone's behaviour will not change suddenly. One's nature doesn't change. If Nitish Kumar had a clean image earlier... I cannot say that it will fall suddenly..I do not believe it."

According to media reports, the Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi who has demanded for a CBI inquiry in the multi-crore medicine scam in Bihar has alleged involvement of big JD(U) leader and senior government officials.

The BJP leader without taking Nitish Kumar's name has reportedly raised eyebrows that the scam happened under his tenure when he was the Chief Minister and was also holding the charge of the Health Minister after BJP walked out of the government in June last year.

He also alleged that the substandard medicines, as well as, equipment were bought at much higher prices with funds provided by the central government under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme.