Shourie, Jethmalani were once Modi's supporters, now his strongest critics: Nitish (ANI Exclusive)

Patna, Oct.29 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that former BJP leader Arun Shourie and senior Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani, were once a strong supporter of Narendra Modi during last year's general election campaign, but are now strongest critics of the Prime Minister and his government.

"Ram Jethmalani and Arun Shourie were supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign last year. But now, why is it that their feelings have changed? Ram Jethmalani came to Patna and held a press conference. He lent his support to veterans fighting for the OROP (One Rank One Pension) and also raised the issue of reservation and black money," Kumar told ANI in an exclusive interview.

"Now, Arun Shourie has also launched a stinging attack on the Modi government. People like them, who had put all their strengths to develop the personality of Prime Minister Modi, today, they are criticizing him and his government," Kumar added.

Former BJP leader Shourie, had recently contended that the Prime Minister believes managing the economy means "managing the headlines", and said that people have now started recalling the days of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Doctor Singh (Manmohan Singh) ko log yaad karne lag gaye hain (People have started recalling the days of Manmohan Singh). The way to characterise the policies of the government is -Congress plus a cow. Policies are the same," Shourie said at a book launch function earlier this week.

Expelled BJP lawmaker Ram Jethmalani was in Patna recently and said the BJP should be defeated in the ongoing Bihar elections, as it had "failed" to keep its promise to bring back the black money stashed illegally abroad for evading taxes.

Jethmalani also said he had become a "victim of fraud" by playing into the hands of Narendra Modi and Arun Jaitley.

"Today, I have come here (Patna) to do 'penance' for what I did by promoting Narendra Modi as the leader of the country (before the Lok Sabha polls). I thought that God has sent him as his 'Aulia' (representative) for India's salvation...How I became the victim of that fraud," Jethmalani said.