'Nitish is not Bihar and Bihar is not Nitish': BJP

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi on Wednesday said that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's DNA consists of cheating and betrayal, adding that the latter should apologise to the people of Bihar.

"He betrayed the trust of Jitan Ram Manji, broke all ties of friendship with the BJP after 17 years. He has joined hands with Lalu, a man under whose reign being called a 'Bihari' was a shame," Modi said.

Responding to the open letter written by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that another open letter is being published by Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha and other ministers to the people of Bihar declaring that Nitish is neither the face nor voice of the state.

"In our open letter we have demanded that Nitish apologise to the people of Bihar. He is openly abusing and belittling Narendra Modi, the man who has nothing but good intentions for the people of Bihar," he added.

The letter says, "One would have expected Shri Nitish Kumar to comprehend words and issues better. The Prime Minister, in his Muzaffarpur speech, made a very accurate and pertinent remark on Shri Nitish Kumar's political journey, which in our view (and that of several others) is characterized by deceit, treachery and ungratefulness."

"The remarks of the Prime Minister pertained to Shri Kumar's (and not that of Bihar's) political DNA (and not your or Bihar's DNA as he have mischievously misinterpreted). Mr. Nitish Kumar, before writing to the Prime Minister, please apologize to the people of Bihar for shamelessly distorting the words of the Prime Minister for petty political gains and humiliating Bihar in the process," the letter demanded.

Nitish had earlier in his letter objected to Prime Minister Modi's DNA remark during a rally in Bihar and urged him to take back his words.