Nitish criticizes BJP for bringing contentious issues in poll manifesto

Janata Dal United (JDU) chief Nitish Kumar on Tuesday criticized Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poll manifesto for bringing controversial issues like Ram Temple, Article 370 and Common Civil Code into focus again, and said that it vindicates his stand to part ways with them.

Kumar took a jibe at BJP alleging betrayal with the state over the special status, while speaking at news conference in Patna.

"They (BJP) had advocated that they would give Bihar the special state status if they form the federal government. And it was said that they would also mention in their manifesto but when the manifesto was released yesterday, it had no mention of providing Bihar the special state status" said Kumar.

He also took potshots at rivals like party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress saying that assertion of special state status for Bihar in RJD manifesto is a joke.

Kumar urged the people of Bihar to vote for JD (U) to empower them to procure the special state status from the federal government.

"I would appeal to the people of Bihar that special status is a way to our rights for development. And many parties have talked about it but if we want to achieve the development the only party fighting for it is Janata Dal (U) who should be empowered to acquire the special state status from the federal government," he said.