Angry Nitish cools down, to attend varsity ceremony

After an angry outburst over not being invited, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will Thursday finally attend a foundation-stone laying ceremony by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

The foundation stone of off-campus branch of the Aligarh Muslim University will be laid in Kishanganj district.

"Nitish Kumar has left for Kishanganj to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of AMU centre by Sonia Gandhi Jan 30," an official in chief minister office here said.

The official said that Nitish Kumar decided to attend the function after he received an invitation from the Union Human Resource Development Minister M.M. Pallam Raju.

"Nitish Kumar has agreed to attend the function with Sonia Gandhi as it will send a positive massage in election year," a senior Janata Dal (United) leader said.

However, Congress leaders here said that Nitish Kumar made a hue and cry over not being invited to gain political capital out of the inauguration of the AMU centre.

Prem Chand Mishra, state media cell incharge of the Congress, sought a public apology from the chief minister for targeting Congress.

Mishra said that AMU Vice-Chancellor Zameeruddin Shah Tuesday rejected Bihar government's claim that Nitish Kumar was not invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony.

"The programme was finalised Jan 24 and the very next day, we faxed an invitation to the Bihar chief minister and the governor. We also sent an invitation through speed post," Shah said.

Bihar Education Minister P.K. Shahi Monday registered a protest with the central government, saying the state government was not invited to the function. He also wrote a letter to Raju.

Shahi reminded Raju that the state government has made available 224 acres of land free of cost for setting up the AMU centre.