Nitish known for betraying Mandal, did it again: Tejashwi

Questioning Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's principles, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said he was known for "betraying" pro-Mandal and pro-secular forces since 1990s and had done it again in the state by allying with the NDA.

"Nitish Kumar left the pro-Mandal camp in the early 1990s and joined the 'Kamandal' led by L.K. Advani. Nitish Kumar joined hands with the communal forces that demolished the Babri Mosque, a symbol of the country's secularism and harmony, in the early '90s. He has repeated it again when all opposition parties are uniting against Kamandal," Tejashwi Yadav said at a press conference here.

A day after his father and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad called the Chief Minister as "Paltu Ram of politics", Tejashwi Yadav called him 'kursi premi' (lover of power) who is "hardly concerned for Bihar's development".

"Nitish Kumar only loves power and the CM's chair -- he has betrayed it time and again," the former Deputy Chief Minister said.

Tejashwi said: "Where is Nitish Kumar's morality and principles when 75 per cent of his ministers, apart from him, are tainted. Nitish Kumar should clarify in public whether he is an accused in a murder case."

Tejashwi asked how could a person accused under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code be sworn in as the Chief Minister, and pointed out that five cases were pending against Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

The RJD leader said Nitish Kumar had repeatedly claimed that he will not compromise on corruption, wondering his stand on the Vayapam scam in Madhya Pradesh as well as Panama Papers leaks.

"The people of Bihar and the country are keen to know why Nitish Kumar betrayed the mandate of the 2015 Bihar assembly elections."

Tejashwi also claimed that Nitish Kumar was uncomfortable with his then young Deputy Chief Minister (Tejashwi) who was "committed to development and zero tolerance against corruption".

The RJD leader said the live broadcast from the Bihar assembly during the trust vote was not allowed since Nitish Kumar was afraid of his (Tejashwi) speech in which he raised several genuine questions.

--IANS

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